Chapter 50: Qi Refining Third Layer, Rapid Maturation, Spirit Array Master
Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Qi Refining Third Layer, Rapid Maturation, Spirit Array Master
[Qi Cultivation Technique +1]
BUZZ!
Between Heaven and Earth, the galaxy seemed to reverse. A massive amount of Spiritual Qi surged into Chen Mo’s body like a whale inhaling water, continuously circulating through his meridians. It ultimately gathered at his Dantian, breaking through its restraints.
Chen Mo, sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes. The Spiritual Qi tore through his palms as he thoroughly absorbed the very last trace of it from the Spiritual Sand. He then opened his hands, watching the completely drained Spiritual Sand slip through his fingers like ordinary grit.
Over ten days ago, that Low Grade Spirit Stone had reached the end of its lifespan, its contained Spiritual Qi completely exhausted. During these past few days, Chen Mo had to rely on Spiritual Sand for Cultivation once again. Because of this, this day had arrived a few days later than expected! At this moment, his breathing was exceptionally smooth, and he felt an endless well of strength within his body. The sense of control brought by the Qi Refining Third Layer deeply fascinated Chen Mo. It was no wonder that once someone stepped onto the path of Cultivation, they would walk further and further down the road of pursuing power.
Qi Refining Third Layer! Unlike the doubled experience required for Magic, the experience needed for Realm elevation was much more gradual. The experience required for the next step only increased from 200 to 300 points. At this pace, as long as he had enough Low Grade Spirit Stones, he could break through again in a year and a half. He would reach the Qi Refining Fourth Layer—a Realm that ordinary Spirit Plant Cultivators wouldn’t even dare to dream of! Cultivation without bottlenecks wasn’t necessarily fast, but its advantage lay in absolute stability! As long as he was given enough time, Chen Mo could catch up to even the Cultivators of Purple Cloud Peak and the Cyan Yang Sect!
Chen Mo slowly stood up. A golden light flared at the tip of his finger, and in the next moment, the Spirit Field in front of him was instantly pierced. The power of the Geng Metal Finger had significantly increased once again. He slowly raised his hand, looking at his slender fingers, and shook his head with a bitter smile. "If I had broken through to the Qi Refining Third Layer earlier, perhaps I could have saved another 400 catties of Spirit Rice," he murmured. But reality had no "ifs." Chen Mo only allowed himself a brief moment of sentimentality; he would only look forward!
As usual, he opened his interface. Before he even checked his Talents, a specific number instantly caught his attention.
[Lifespan: 31/80]
Lifespan! He originally only had 77 years to live, but now he could live up to 80. Breaking through to the Qi Refining Second Layer had granted him one year of lifespan, while breaking through to the Qi Refining Third Layer gave him three!
"Does this mean that as long as I continuously break through, my lifespan will keep accumulating, and I might eventually catch a glimpse of true immortality?" he thought. Chen Mo took a deep breath, deeply moved by his own realization. The illusory legends of the past suddenly felt incredibly real in this moment. Cultivation and the Immortal Path—wasn’t the ultimate pursuit just power and immortality? "I just need to cultivate hard!"
Pulling his thoughts away from the unexpected pleasant surprise, Chen Mo shifted his gaze to the Talent column.
[Talents: Increased Production (Purple), Breeding (Green), Rapid Maturation (Green)]
As expected, the anticipated reward had arrived right on time! Along with his Realm elevation, he had awakened another Talent!
[Rapid Maturation (Green): A method capable of reshaping heaven and earth, possessing the power to reverse time itself. Gathers Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi into one place to accelerate the growth of Spirit Plants. This Talent can be integrated during Array Formation, reducing the time required for Spirit Plant growth by 100% (Can be unlocked by casting any Tier One Spirit Array).]
"Spirit Arrays?" Chen Mo frowned slightly. He originally thought that with his Realm elevation and Talent awakening, he would have to learn another specialized Magic to act as the medium to cast the Talent. But he never expected that this time, it wasn’t a Magic at all, but rather a Spirit Array! As long as it was a Tier One Spirit Array, it could rapidly mature the Spirit Plants within it. In terms of application, it was naturally simpler than Increased Production and Breeding, which required proficient Cultivation to use. However, in terms of room for growth, it was likely far inferior! Whether it was Increased Production or Breeding, as long as he had enough time and resources, it was easy to upgrade them to Purple, or even higher.
But Rapid Maturation was completely different! A Tier One Spirit Array corresponded to a Green Talent. Barring any surprises, a Tier Two Spirit Array would unlock a Blue Talent, a Tier Three would unlock Purple... and so on. One had to know that a Tier One Spirit Array could be formed in the Qi Refining Realm. However, a Tier Two Spirit Array required the Foundation Establishment Realm! And a Tier Three Spirit Array was a power only possessed by a Golden Core Great Power! Chen Mo hadn’t anticipated that the upgrade conditions for the [Rapid Maturation] Talent would be so harsh! Nevertheless, even if it was just Green, the Spirit Yellow Rice that originally took nine months to mature would now only need about four months under the blessing of his Array, vastly reducing the time required. If it proved feasible, he could even achieve two harvests a year!
"Arrays, Arrays... where should I go to learn about Arrays?" he muttered. Chen Mo snapped out of his vivid imagination of the future. The practical problem currently laid out before him was how to become a Spirit Array Master! This wasn’t like the Rainfall Technique or the Qi Crossing Technique, which were as common as dirt and could be bought with just a bit of Spiritual Sand. Perhaps there were barely any Tier One Spirit Array Masters capable of forming Arrays in the entire Ancient Dust Marketplace! Furthermore, just like Talisman Masters, Alchemy Masters, and Artifact Refiners, Spirit Array Masters relied on a continuous lineage passed down from master to disciple. If an ordinary person lacked a master’s guidance, it would be utterly impossible for them to even dabble in the field. In other words, even if he wanted to learn, there was no place to do so!
Chen Mo shook his head with a bitter smile. He had been given a powerful Talent, yet he was restricted by his personal strength and couldn’t even use it! "A Spirit Plant Cultivator is just a Spirit Plant Cultivator in the end. The resources I can mobilize are simply too few!" he thought.
Suddenly, Chen Mo thought of a person. "Perhaps I can ask Shopkeeper Song about it?" Chen Mo pondered over it and realized it was actually a viable plan! He glanced at the sky. It wasn’t even noon yet, and it was still early. Rather than waiting until tomorrow, it would be better to set off for the Marketplace right now. Maybe Song Yunxi could truly help introduce him to a Spirit Array Master or two!
Acting on his thoughts, Chen Mo straightened his clothes and loaded his wooden handcart with the neatly stacked Spirit Rice from his cabin. He then pushed the cart, wobbling unsteadily as he headed out the door.
And at the very moment he set off on the road, a gaze fell upon him. Xiao Changhua, who had been constantly keeping an eye on this place for the past few days, narrowed his eyes slightly and let out a cold sneer in his heart. "He finally couldn’t hold back anymore!" Xiao Changhua had waited bitterly for many days. He originally thought that after the news from the Marketplace spread, his prey would immediately set off towards it. He didn’t expect the other party to actually be so composed. To avoid being targeted by Tribulation Cultivators, he had actually waited another ten days! Fortunately, he had enough patience!
Chen Mo pushed the small handcart, making his way toward the Marketplace. The weeds on both sides of the road had already begun to yellow and wither, and the leaves in the woods ahead were falling in droves, presenting a stark and desolate autumn scene. Not long after he started walking, Chen Mo faintly sensed a familiar aura. He stopped in his tracks and abruptly turned his head. After looking around, however, he couldn’t find any trace of another person.
"That’s not right! My senses shouldn’t be wrong!" he thought. Chen Mo was absolutely certain that he was being followed! He stood in place and waited for a moment before pushing his cart forward again.
Following behind him, Xiao Changhua’s heart leaped to his throat, and his brows knitted tightly together. "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! With his strength and Realm, there is no way he could discover me!" Xiao Changhua thought it over and over, and came up with only one possibility—it was a coincidence! Thinking of this, he stepped forward again and quietly followed behind.