What's more important is that this Inner Qi was accumulated during Qi Refining to Gang, not during Inner Qi Manifestation.
The only one who can practice Proving the Way with Strength is King Xiang, who has swallowed an entire Divine Stone core. As for others, there's basically no chance, so if one wants to achieve Inner Qi Manifestation, apart from realizing one's true nature, one may as well give up.
Even to put it realistically, if a Qi Refining to Gang Peak general is not hindered by the realization of true nature, there could be a lot more Inner Qi Manifestation generals.
It can be said that it was nearly a miracle for Guan Hai to become an Inner Qi Manifestation General after struggling for so long and letting go of everything to finally understand it all.
