"I think I will just wait until I reach the peak of the 15th Stage of Quantum Qi Condensation before I refocus my attention on increasing the maximum size of my Qi Cyclones and Dantian again." Azmond gave a slight nod to himself, as if affirming his decision, before beginning to float out of the deep pit he found himself in.
.....
He did not yet have the ability to fly. He could, at most, float above the ground at any distance he felt like.
This feat in and of itself was not usually possible, but because Azmond was Azmond, he was able to achieve it like it was second nature...
You can normally only start to float at the same time you learn how to fly, which is in the Foundation Establishment Realm. It sometimes takes even longer for the slow-witted ones, as they need to wait until they break through the Core Formation Realm before they're able to begin floating or flying.
On that note, the difference between the Qi Condensation Realm and the Foundation Establishment Realm was quite a hefty one.
When you break through into the Foundation Establishment Realm from the Qi Condensation Realm, the Qi you have stored inside your Qi Cyclones and Dantian is transformed into something different—something better.
Let us say that the Qi you have stored within your body while you're in the Qi Condensation Realm is similar to a gaseous form of energy, while the energy you have when you break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm is that gaseous form becoming a liquid form.
The Qi inside your body starts to evolve more and more the further you go along the path of cultivation.
Qi, just like every other part of the human body, requires exponential change if one part of your body can't keep up with every other part of your being.
This is a unique rule that all cultivators' bodies follow by nature. This naturally includes the Qi in your body.
Nothing can be left stagnant within a cultivator's body forever, so the Qi within your Dantian space will need to evolve if it wishes to keep up with the rest of your constantly evolving existence.
This is the way of a cultivator.
This is the way of someone who is trying to defy their Fate.
...
Azmond was able to float simply because he's trying to defy a fate that was already being defied. It wouldn't be much of a surprise if he was suddenly able to fly before even fully entering the Foundation Establishment Realm.
What Azmond has been doing so far that was perceived as 'flying' was really just him jumping up super high. Very similar to a certain hero for fun in a yellow suit...
...
*Tap* *Tap*
Azmond's soft footsteps were heard as he walked slowly back to the giant spiritual stone he had been cultivating under for the last few weeks.
He passed by his Little Ice Flower on the way, but she was still soundly sleeping with a peaceful look on her beautiful face.
Her two perky bunnies would sometimes heave a little when something happened within her dreams.
It was a sight Azmond clearly didn't miss when he saw it occur...
........
He silently approached his Little Ice Bunny as he tenderly kissed her on the lips before backing away.
Azmond walked back to his cultivation spot after taking one last loving look at his Little Ice Roll...
"Sigh... I want her to wake up and have some more fun with her, but I know I don't have the luxuries to be fooling around with her right now," he said with a sigh escaping his mouth.
"It is unknown when the elders of her sect will come to pick up their heiress, and I need to be ready for when they do end up appearing."
Azmond's loving expression turned to one of determination as he sat down in his usual Lotus position before absorbing the massive amount of energy that was stored within a single giant spiritual stone.
'Crystalline seems to be having her own unique cultivation session as well. Her aura has already firmly planted itself within the Nascent Soul Realm,' he thought as his expression relaxed a little when he thought of the strength Crystalline was gaining.
Nothing could make Azmond happier than knowing that his Love was acquiring more strength to better protect herself when he wasn't around.
'I don't exactly know when she broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm, but it must've been when I was going through a break through myself.'
'However, nothing is free in this world, and as adorable as my Little Ice Bunny is, she is not excluded from that existential law.'
Azmond's expression turned to worry for a moment as he had the urge to go back over to Crystalline and make sure she was okay, but before he did...
He remembered the promise he made himself involving Crystalline...
'...I regret ever promising myself such a ridiculous thing...' Azmond was thinking that his past self a few days ago must've been a complete idiot.
"...."
"Whatever, I will get nowhere brooding over whether or not I was stupid or not for promising such a thing. I am one who lives by a certain code, and that code's only rule is-"
"Never Regret."
"No matter what decisions I make or what happens to me or the people around me because of my decisions, I must never regret what I do. I already broke this rule once when I went too far with Crystalline when I first met her," he said, a resolute gleam shining past his eyes.
"I don't plan on letting something like that happen again."
A determined expression emerged on Azmond's face as he scratched the topic of Crystalline for now and focused on advancing through the 13th Stage of Quantum Qi Condensation.
He knew, deep down, that Crystalline was able to take care of herself. After all, she was a strong, independent woman before she met Azmond, and it doesn't seem like that part of her will be changing anytime soon.
....
20 days later.
'How do I keep ending up here??' An expressionless Azmond asked himself as he was floating thousands of meters in the sky. He was breaking through in the same spot that he had broken through the last few times.
......