Chapter 140: New Cultivation Technique!

Damian began by opening his Shengyuan Cultivation Record, deciding that the first order of business was to establish exactly where he stood before attempting another breakthrough.

His cultivation had remained untouched for quite some time, and considering how dramatically his Attributes had improved since then, there were several calculations he wanted to revisit.

[Shengyuan Cultivation Record

Name: Damian Baines

Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation Level 1

Realm Progress: 0/10,000 Cultivation Base

Cultivation Method: Five Elements Harmonization Art (Human)

Technique Mastery: Perfection (100%)

Martial Skills: Seven-Turn Sword Art (Perfection)

Daoist Arts: Object Control (Entry)

Special Cultivation Feats: Cultivation Prodigy, Heaven-Devouring Circulation, Purified Qi, Divine Sense, Perfect Combat Instinct, Myriad Arts Master, Battle God, Demonic Plundering Dao Body, Qi Transfer, Myriad Beast Slayer, All Element Heavenly Body]

Damian’s attention immediately settled upon the Realm Progress field, and his eyebrows rose as he examined the enormous number displayed there.

Ten thousand Cultivation Base merely to advance from Qi Condensation Level 1 to Level 2?!

"Holy shit! And here I thought Body Tempering was getting expensive!" Damian exclaimed, rubbing his forehead as he recalled the requirements of his previous breakthroughs.

"At this rate, reaching the higher realms is going to require enough Spiritual Energy to bankrupt an entire country!"

Of course, the increase was perfectly understandable when he considered how cultivation actually worked.

Every major realm represented a qualitative transformation in the practitioner’s existence, so the energy required to advance naturally increased at a frightening rate.

Body Tempering had followed a comparatively gentle progression, beginning with one hundred Cultivation Base to advance from the mundane state to Level 1 and increasing by another hundred with each subsequent level.

By the time someone approached the peak of Body Tempering, the requirements had reached one thousand Cultivation Base, which already represented ten times the initial amount.

Qi Condensation, however, was another matter entirely!

The ordinary requirement for advancing from Qi Condensation Level 1 to Level 2 was five thousand Cultivation Base, representing an enormous jump compared to Body Tempering.

And thanks to his wonderful decision to acquire <Purified Qi>, Damian needed twice that amount!

Ten thousand!

He sighed heavily, although he could hardly claim to regret acquiring the Feat when its benefits were so extraordinary.

The increased cultivation requirements were essentially the price he paid for developing a foundation of far greater purity and stability, and Damian had always considered quality more important than rushing toward a higher realm with a defective foundation.

Besides, it wasn’t as though he lacked advantages.

"Alright, let’s count everything properly," Damian muttered, opening his Character Sheet and examining the Attributes responsible for his cultivation-related Feats.

"I’ve gained so many Attributes since my last serious cultivation session that the old calculations are practically worthless."

First came <Cultivation Prodigy>, which increased his base cultivation speed by ten percent for every point of Intelligence. With his current INT of sixteen, that translated into a rather respectable one hundred and sixty percent bonus!

[Feat: Cultivation Prodigy

Current INT: 16.0

Base Cultivation Speed Bonus: +160%.]

Next was <Heaven-Devouring Circulation>, whose bonus followed the same formula but scaled with Constitution instead.

And considering that Damian’s CON had reached a monstrous forty-six points, the result was considerably more outrageous!

[Feat: Heaven-Devouring Circulation

Current CON: 46.0

Base Cultivation Speed Bonus: +460%.]

Damian stared at the second number before slowly breaking into a delighted grin.

Four hundred and sixty percent from Constitution alone, added to another one hundred and sixty percent from Intelligence!

That was a combined six hundred and twenty percent increase to his base cultivation speed, meaning he could theoretically cultivate at 7.2 times the ordinary rate before considering any other advantages.

And those were merely two of his Feats!

"Hahahaha! Oh, this is disgusting!" Damian laughed, shaking his head as he remembered how much effort ordinary cultivators invested into improving their aptitude.

"Tsk, tsk, imagine spending fifty years searching for some legendary cultivation treasure, only for a bastard like me to show up with 7.2x cultivation gain rate!"

Naturally, his other advantages were not nearly so straightforward to calculate.

His functional Five Elements compatibility had previously provided approximately twice the ordinary cultivation efficiency, while Valorian mana offered another threefold advantage compared to Shengyuan’s considerably more stubborn Spiritual Energy.

Those were separate factors, so combining them with his current cultivation-speed Feats produced an extremely encouraging theoretical result.

Seven point two, multiplied by two, multiplied by three.

Forty-three point two times!

Of course, that represented an estimate based upon his previously established compatibility and the confirmed behavior of Valorian mana, rather than a guaranteed rate under every possible circumstance.

Technique compatibility, mastery, bottlenecks and the particular requirements of Qi Condensation could all influence the actual result.

Then there was <Purified Qi>.

[Feat: Purified Qi

Current WIS: 18.6

Cultivation Requirement Increase: +100%

Current Purified Qi Bonus: +186%.]

Damian nodded appreciatively as he examined the numbers, noting that his current Wisdom provided a one hundred and eighty-six percent improvement to the purity, stability and related effectiveness of his refined Qi. That was equivalent to 2.86 times the ordinary value in those affected areas, although it was not another independent cultivation-speed multiplier.

The doubled cultivation requirement remained the main drawback, so dividing his theoretical 43.2-times cultivation rate by two produced an effective advancement advantage of approximately 21.6 times compared to an ordinary cultivator with equivalent baseline circumstances.

Naturally, that comparison assumed his existing compatibility continued functioning at the same efficiency, which he would still need to verify.

Even so, Damian was delighted!

A normal Qi Condensation cultivator might need years to accomplish what he could potentially achieve in a fraction of the time, especially once he began adding medicinal resources, formations and improved technique mastery into the equation.

And he had not even accounted for <All Element Heavenly Body>, which doubled his affinity with every recognized element!

However, Damian deliberately refrained from treating that final benefit as another automatic twofold cultivation-speed multiplier.

Elemental affinity improved compatibility and interaction with supernatural energy, but that did not necessarily mean every cultivation technique would convert the improvement into an identical numerical increase.

"Still, twenty-one point six times as a working estimate is pretty damn good!" Damian concluded, feeling considerably better about the enormous Cultivation Base requirement.

"If everything works out, I might actually be able to make some serious progress without spending the next decade sitting on my ass!"

Unfortunately, there was one rather important problem with his calculations.

His cultivation technique!

The <Five Elements Harmonization Art> was a Body Tempering method, and although Damian had cultivated it to Perfection, it was never intended to support continued advancement through Qi Condensation.

Its primary purpose was refining the physical body through the balanced circulation of the five foundational elements, whereas Qi Condensation required the practitioner to accumulate, refine and develop the spiritual reservoir within their Qi Sea.

He had successfully formed that Qi Sea during his breakthrough, but continuing to rely upon the old method would be like attempting to construct a skyscraper using nothing but the foundation’s original blueprints.

The foundation was important, certainly, but the next stage required an entirely different approach!

"Right, time to upgrade the cultivation technique!" Damian declared, opening his Exchange Storage and retrieving a collection of jade slips he had purchased from the Evergreen Sect.

"Let’s see what kind of ridiculous nonsense these people have been hiding in their libraries!"

He had acquired the manuals back when he was preparing to break through Body Tempering, purchasing three Qi Condensation techniques for each of the five ordinary elements, three Wind techniques, three Lightning techniques and three dedicated Five Elements methods.

Afterward, he had added approximately ten more unusual techniques focused upon specialized cultivation paths and auxiliary applications.

Altogether, it was a fairly respectable collection, although Damian had never properly compared their individual advantages.

Back then, he had been more interested in acquiring enough options to trigger the next System quest, but now it was finally time to examine his purchases seriously.

He began with the Human Rank techniques, which constituted the overwhelming majority of his collection.

[Item: Clear Stream Qi Sutra

Rank: Novice (Valoria), Human (Shengyuan)

Effect 1 (Valoria): Uses mana to refine a stable Water-attributed Qi foundation. Increases WIS by 1 per Qi Condensation Level.

Effect 2 (Shengyuan): A Water-attributed cultivation method emphasizing continuous circulation, Qi recovery and the gradual removal of minor impurities from accumulated Spiritual Energy.

Note: Requires Water-attributed cultivation compatibility.]

[Item: Thunderclap Spirit Breathing

Rank: Novice (Valoria), Human (Shengyuan)

Effect 1 (Valoria): Refines Lightning-attributed Qi through accelerated meridian circulation. Increases INT by 1 per Qi Condensation Level.

Effect 2 (Shengyuan): Improves the responsiveness of Lightning Qi and supports rapid offensive Daoist Arts. Cultivation is comparatively aggressive and requires careful control to avoid meridian damage.

Note: Requires Lightning-attributed cultivation compatibility.]

[Item: Whispering Puppet Thread Art

Rank: Novice (Valoria), Human (Shengyuan)

Effect 1 (Valoria): Refines Qi into fine spiritual threads suitable for remote manipulation. Increases INT by 0.7 and WIS by 0.3 per Qi Condensation Level.

Effect 2 (Shengyuan): A specialized cultivation method supporting Puppet Control, spiritual-thread manipulation and the operation of compatible artificial constructs. Provides limited advantages in direct combat without accompanying Puppet Techniques.

Note: Requires sufficient spiritual perception and control.]

Damian examined the three techniques with considerable interest, immediately noticing that their Attribute improvements were much more focused than those provided by his previous Body Tempering method. Some granted a single point to Intelligence or Wisdom, while others divided the increase between both Attributes in decimal amounts that were not necessarily equal.

More importantly, the actual purpose of each technique varied considerably.

The Clear Stream Qi Sutra prioritized stability and recovery, while Thunderclap Spirit Breathing was clearly intended for cultivators pursuing aggressive Lightning-based combat.

The Whispering Puppet Thread Art was even more specialized, sacrificing conventional combat advantages in exchange for compatibility with Puppet Techniques and related auxiliary disciplines.

That was the essential difference between Body Tempering and Qi Condensation!

Body Tempering techniques primarily focused upon improving the practitioner’s physical foundation, with differences in elemental compatibility, Attribute gains and the efficiency of bodily refinement.

Qi Condensation techniques, however, began determining what kind of cultivator someone would actually become.

A sword cultivator might prioritize sharp, aggressive Qi capable of reinforcing weapons and supporting powerful Martial Arts, while an Alchemist might prefer a method that improved spiritual control and supported the refinement of medicinal flames.

Someone pursuing the Hundred Arts could even select a technique whose primary benefits had little to do with fighting!

"Interesting! So choosing a cultivation technique is practically the same as selecting a specialization," Damian observed, continuing through the remaining jade slips with growing appreciation.

"The Attribute increases are nice, but the actual applications are where things start getting complicated!"

Unfortunately, Human Rank techniques were rather limited in their overall quality, which explained why they were so common throughout ordinary sect libraries.

Their relatively modest Attribute improvements and specialized effects made them useful for developing particular foundations, but Damian was hardly interested in settling for an ordinary technique when better options were available.

He moved on to the Yellow Rank manuals.

[Item: Azure Storm Meridian Scripture

Rank: Journeyman (Valoria), Yellow (Shengyuan)

Effect 1 (Valoria): Refines Wind and Lightning Qi through interconnected meridian pathways. Increases INT by 2 and WIS by 1 per Qi Condensation Level.

Effect 2 (Shengyuan): Supports rapid Qi circulation, enhanced control of Wind and Lightning Daoist Arts, and improved spiritual responsiveness during movement and ranged attacks.

Note: Requires compatible Wind and Lightning affinities.]

[Item: Sovereign Flame Soul Furnace

Rank: Journeyman (Valoria), Yellow (Shengyuan)

Effect 1 (Valoria): Refines Fire-attributed Qi through a controlled internal furnace. Increases INT by 1 and WIS by 2 per Qi Condensation Level.

Effect 2 (Shengyuan): Develops stable spiritual flames suitable for Fire Daoist Arts, Alchemy and the purification of compatible medicinal materials. Improves flame control but demands careful regulation of internal heat.

Note: Requires Fire-attributed cultivation compatibility.]

[Item: Five Currents Unity Art

Rank: Journeyman (Valoria), Yellow (Shengyuan)

Effect 1 (Valoria): Refines balanced Five Elements Qi through mutually supporting circulation pathways. Increases INT by 2 and WIS by 2 per Qi Condensation Level.

Effect 2 (Shengyuan): Harmonizes Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Qi to support multi-element Daoist Arts, spiritual recovery and the stable operation of techniques requiring several elemental attributes.

Note: Requires Five Elements cultivation compatibility.]

"Oh? Now we’re talking!" Damian exclaimed, his eyes brightening as he examined the much more generous Attribute improvements.

"Whole numbers in both Intelligence and Wisdom, and the actual techniques are considerably more versatile too!"

The difference in quality was immediately apparent, especially when he compared the Yellow Rank methods against their Human Rank counterparts.

Rather than focusing upon a single narrow application, these techniques frequently supported several related disciplines, allowing their practitioners to develop more comprehensive fighting styles.

The Sovereign Flame Soul Furnace was particularly interesting because Damian already possessed considerable knowledge of Alchemy, and a technique capable of improving spiritual flame control would naturally complement that profession.

Meanwhile, the Five Currents Unity Art offered a balanced foundation that could support his existing elemental versatility without forcing him into a particular specialization.

If those had been the best techniques available, Damian would probably have selected the Five Currents Unity Art without much hesitation.

Unfortunately for the Yellow Rank manuals, he had something considerably better!

Among his entire collection, only two techniques belonged to the Earth Rank, which stood immediately below the legendary Heaven Rank in Shengyuan’s cultivation-method hierarchy.

Both were exceptionally valuable inheritances, and the first was a Wood-attributed technique favored by the Evergreen Sect’s most accomplished senior practitioners.

[Item: Verdant Heaven Longevity Scripture

Rank: Adept (Valoria), Earth (Shengyuan)

Effect 1 (Valoria): Refines highly concentrated Wood Qi into a life-nourishing spiritual foundation. Increases INT by 5, WIS by 6 and CON by 0.4 per Qi Condensation Level.

Effect 2 (Shengyuan): Produces exceptionally stable Wood Qi with powerful vitality-nourishing properties. Supports recovery, healing Daoist Arts, Spirit Planting and longevity-oriented cultivation while strengthening the practitioner’s resistance to gradual bodily deterioration.

Note: Recommended minimum compatibility is a High Grade Wood Spirit Root. Cultivation below this threshold remains possible but suffers greatly reduced efficiency.]

Damian stared at the enormous Attribute improvements for several seconds, his expression gradually transforming into one of disbelief.

Five Intelligence, six Wisdom and even a small Constitution increase with every Qi Condensation Level?!

"Holy mother of God! This thing is practically a cheat code!" Damian exclaimed, immediately understanding why the Evergreen Sect reserved its most valuable techniques for its strongest and most promising members.

"Forget ordinary cultivation, someone practicing this could become an absolute monster just by advancing a few levels!"

Of course, the technique came with a rather demanding compatibility requirement, which explained why every random disciple wasn’t walking around with those ridiculous Attribute values.

Without at least a High Grade Wood Spirit Root, the practitioner would struggle to refine the necessary quality of Wood Qi, significantly reducing cultivation efficiency despite the technique remaining technically accessible.

And that was before considering the enormous amount of resources required to support an Earth Rank cultivation method.

Nevertheless, Damian was impressed, especially by the additional Constitution increase and longevity-related benefits.

Unlike ordinary Qi Condensation techniques, this method could improve an Attribute outside Intelligence and Wisdom, which made it particularly attractive to cultivators seeking long-term physical vitality.

Unfortunately, Damian wasn’t especially interested in specializing exclusively in Wood.

His eyes shifted toward the final Earth Rank jade slip, and a smile gradually appeared as he recognized the name engraved upon its surface.

This was the most valuable Five Elements inheritance in his collection, descended from the Core Formation Five Elements Sect that had eventually given rise to both the Evergreen Sect and Azure Water Sect.

The Five Elements Spiritual Canon!

[Item: Five Elements Spiritual Canon

Rank: Adept (Valoria), Earth (Shengyuan)

Effect 1 (Valoria): Refines Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Qi into a unified Five Elements spiritual foundation. Increases INT by 10, WIS by 10 and SPI by 0.5 per Qi Condensation Level.

Effect 2 (Shengyuan): Establishes a balanced Five Elements Qi circulation capable of supporting multi-element Daoist Arts, elemental transformation, spiritual recovery and the harmonious operation of techniques from different elemental disciplines. Its refined Qi foundation is particularly suited to practitioners pursuing broad comprehension and versatility across multiple cultivation paths.

Note: Recommended minimum compatibility is a High Grade Five Elements Spirit Root. Cultivation below this threshold remains possible but suffers greatly reduced efficiency and increased comprehension demands.]

Damian’s smile widened considerably as he examined the final technique, immediately appreciating how perfectly it complemented his existing cultivation philosophy.

Ten points each in Intelligence and Wisdom, alongside a small but valuable increase to Spirit!

The Spirit increase was especially remarkable, since that Attribute was not ordinarily improved through Qi Condensation cultivation and generally belonged to much more advanced stages of spiritual development.

Yet this Earth Rank inheritance provided a minor improvement even at this early realm, making it considerably more attractive than an ordinary technique.

And the applications were just as impressive!

Rather than committing its practitioner to a single elemental path, the Five Elements Spiritual Canon developed a unified foundation capable of supporting techniques from several different disciplines.

That was practically tailor-made for someone like Damian, who possessed extensive magical knowledge, multiple elemental affinities and a growing collection of Shengyuan Martial Arts and Daoist Arts!

The only real problem was its compatibility requirement.

His original Spirit Root Testing Orb result had identified a Low Grade Five Elements foundation, although his subsequent growth had improved his functional compatibility considerably.

Furthermore, <All Element Heavenly Body> had doubled his elemental affinities, providing another substantial advantage when dealing with the five foundational elements.

However, Damian wasn’t foolish enough to assume that improved elemental affinity automatically transformed his functional compatibility into a genuine High Grade Five Elements Spirit Root.

He would still need to test how effectively his current foundation could support the technique, especially because an Earth Rank inheritance was considerably more demanding than the Human Rank method he had previously cultivated.

Nevertheless, that was hardly a reason to abandon the idea!

He possessed enormous Intelligence and Wisdom, a perfectly mastered Five Elements foundation, extraordinary cultivation-speed Feats and access to Valorian mana.

Even if his compatibility proved insufficient to cultivate the technique at its intended efficiency, he had more than enough advantages to compensate for at least some of the disadvantage.

Besides, the Five Elements Spiritual Canon was simply too good to ignore!

"Well, that settles it!" Damian declared with a satisfied grin, setting the other jade slips aside as he examined the Earth Rank inheritance one final time.

"If I’m going to spend thousands of Cultivation Base advancing through Qi Condensation, I might as well use the best damn technique I can get my hands on!"

The Verdant Heaven Longevity Scripture was excellent, and several Yellow Rank methods offered tempting specialized advantages, but none complemented his existing development as comprehensively as the Five Elements Spiritual Canon.

Its balanced Attribute improvements, minor Spirit growth and extraordinary elemental versatility made it the obvious choice for someone pursuing power across two entirely different worlds!

Damian carefully stored the remaining manuals before settling his attention upon the selected jade slip, his expression filled with anticipation.

After reaching Perfection in the Five Elements Harmonization Art, he was finally ready to begin cultivating its far more demanding successor!

The Five Elements Spiritual Canon would be his new cultivation technique!