Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO-Chapter 580 Too Demanding

"Did he succeed already?" Fang Caizhe muttered, stunned.

Breaking through to the Innate Realm at twenty-five is one thing, but to do it in less than three minutes? Isn't that a bit much?

Bai Qian'er was somewhat in disbelief, but her joy quickly overshadowed it. "It's good that you've broken through!"

"Damn impressive..." Duan Zhuo'er subconsciously gave a thumbs-up. He's truly worthy of being our Seasoned Envoy!

But at that moment, under everyone's watchful gaze, Xu Ke slowly shook his head. "I didn't break through."

Upon hearing this, the entire area fell silent.

Then, all eyes turned to Xu Ke.

As they looked, the expression on Tang Yingchang's face froze. The faces of Bai Qian'er and Duan Zhuo'er gradually soured.

Meanwhile, Fang Caizhe, Shi Hongda, and the others slowly revealed looks of surprised delight.

Xu Ke had really failed to break through.

His aura was still that of Innate Great Perfection!

"Did you fail?" Tang Yingchang couldn't believe this outcome and wanted to confirm it again.

It had to be said that while Xu Ke had performed many miracles, he had also raised the expectations of those around him. In Tang Yingchang's view, based on past experience, Xu Ke should have succeeded.

Xu Ke nodded, then smiled. "How could I possibly succeed with such a hasty attempt?"

Hearing this, Tang Yingchang subconsciously replied, "That's true..."

But he still wore a look of deep regret. What a pity!

Just then, a chorus of contemptuous voices rose from the side.

"That's more like it! What kind of breakthrough were you attempting in this situation? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"Do you really think you're a genius? Trying to break through right here? Biting off more than you can chew? What wishful thinking!"

"Let me tell you, don't assume that entering the Innate Realm is as simple as your previous cultivation—it's incredibly difficult! I'm telling you, you won't reach the Innate Realm even in ten years."

Seeing Xu Ke fail, their goal was achieved. Their grief-stricken expressions vanished, replaced by haughtiness as they began to belittle Xu Ke.

Trying to break through in these circumstances? What a joke!

They said these things not only to vent their long-held resentment against Xu Ke but also to strike a blow to his confidence. If they could make Xu Ke doubt himself, it would be a huge win.

Fang Caizhe also wanted to step up and hurl a few insults to vent, but when he saw Xu Ke's gaze sweep over him, he obediently shut his mouth.

"What business is it of yours?" Afterward, Xu Ke looked toward Han Wang and the others with a wry smile. "Even though I failed to break through, I'm still stronger than you."

"Strong, my ass! I could crush you with one hand!" Han Wang sneered.

"Then tell me, how old were you when you reached Innate Great Perfection?" Xu Ke asked nonchalantly.

At these words, Han Wang stiffened, his expression extremely unnatural. "Bringing that up is pointless. What matters is current strength, understand?"

"A man with one foot in the grave comparing himself to a young man? How shameful," Tang Yingchang scoffed.

"You..." Han Wang's face turned livid.

Xu Ke waved his hand. "Alright, that's enough. Let me rest for a moment. Then we can talk about your antidote."

"Why should I take orders from you?"

"You don't have to listen. I just won't give you the antidote. Simple as that."

Xu Ke turned and walked aside to rest.

Han Wang watched him go, his fists clenching and unclenching, over and over again. Finally, he gritted his teeth and muttered, "I'll endure this... I'll endure..."

By the carriage, Xu Ke checked on Ghost Elder, who had taken a palm strike from Han Wang. After confirming he was unharmed, Xu Ke began to inspect his own body.

As his consciousness delved into his Dantian, he saw True Qi on the verge of overflowing thanks to the Jade Mountain Lotus and couldn't help but sigh.

He had enough True Qi; all he lacked was a little more Dragon Essence to break through.

The reason his aura had been climbing earlier was that he had genuinely been attempting a breakthrough. While the Jade Mountain Lotus's medicinal power wreaked havoc on his body, it also rapidly pushed the True Qi of his Innate Great Perfection cultivation—a realm he had only reached five days prior—to its absolute peak.

When the medicinal power dissipated, leaving only the restless Dragon Essence waiting to be subdued, the advancement bottleneck sealed by his Oath of the Medical Path began to loosen. That was why Xu Ke had unhesitatingly chosen to attempt a breakthrough to the Innate Realm.

Unfortunately, while the Dragon Essence remaining in his body was potent, he had used so much of it fighting Han Wang that there wasn't nearly enough left to fuel his breakthrough.

That was precisely why he had failed.

Realizing this, Xu Ke was in agony. What a colossal waste!

After the auction, he had carefully confirmed the amount of Dragon Essence left in the Bronze Wine Chalice. It was more than enough to support his cultivation to the Innate Mid Stage!

But because of that bastard Han Wang, the Dragon Essence he ultimately managed to salvage from the chalice wasn't even enough to break through to the Innate Realm.

He was short just a sliver of Dragon Essence. He had missed the Innate Realm by that tiny little bit.

If it weren't for the matter of the two elders, he would have killed Han Wang on the spot.

What pained Xu Ke the most was that not only was the Dragon Essence wasted, but a huge amount of the Jade Mountain Lotus's medicinal power had been squandered as well.

He hadn't wanted to consume it himself because the Jade Mountain Lotus could be used to curry a massive favor from another power's Innate Great Perfection master. For instance, his earlier plan to give it to Wong Qifu demonstrated its immense value.

But just because Xu Ke didn't want to eat it didn't mean it was useless to him. If he were to consume it himself under normal circumstances, he would have certainly put it to good use, combining its effects with the Dragon Essence from the Bronze Wine Chalice. With his experience, he could have smoothly broken through to the Innate Mid Stage in a short amount of time.

Now, everything was ruined!

Xu Ke opened his eyes and let out a dejected sigh, his gaze filled with melancholy.

A failed breakthrough wasn't the end of the world, but to waste so many resources just to repel Han Wang?

What a terrible loss!

He had completely forgotten how on the highway, he had sworn he would give up anything just to save his own life.

"Mister Xu is truly demanding of himself," Ghost Elder remarked from nearby, unable to hide his admiration.

Poison Elder lamented, "If we had reached Innate Great Perfection at twenty-five, we would have been too ecstatic to know which way was up. Yet he isn't content with that. He's still striving to break through and becomes this dejected over a single failed, hasty attempt. He is just too hard on himself. We are truly inferior by comparison!"

Poison Elder thought to himself that at that age, they would have been thinking about fooling around for a couple of years, not breaking through to the Innate Realm. At twenty-five, with such a cultivation level, what more could one ask for?

Tang Yingchang nodded in agreement. No wonder he's achieved so much at such a young age. He's harsh on others, but he's even harsher on himself…

Meanwhile, Han Wang and his group, who stood distinctly apart from the others, watched with a cold glint in their eyes. This kid is so desperate to break through; he must be trying to get rid of our threat as soon as possible. We have to find another chance to eliminate him before he fully enters the Innate Realm.

"Exactly!"

「Elsewhere」

Bai Qian'er sighed. "I'll go check on him. I can't let him get stuck in his own head."

She had seen Xu Ke sigh. This man's expectations for himself were simply far too high.