Chapter 142: Qi Condensation Level 7, Rocketing Cultivation!

The second Condensing Essence Pill dissolved rapidly beneath the relentless circulation of the Five Elements Spiritual Canon, sending another torrent of medicinal energy surging into Damian’s Qi Sea.

With his cultivation operating at 86.4 times the ordinary rate, the enormous reservoir of energy was being refined almost as quickly as it could be released.

And Damian had absolutely no intention of stopping there!

One pill followed another as he concentrated upon maintaining the intricate circulation, his Refined Qi accumulating at an astonishing rate.

The medicinal energy was continuously transformed into the five elemental currents within his Qi Sea, strengthening the spiraling structure that had first appeared during his breakthrough into Qi Condensation.

By the time he swallowed his tenth Condensing Essence Pill, approximately an hour and a half had passed since he began exploiting the combination.

His Shengyuan Cultivation Record had already climbed toward the 100,000 point threshold, and Damian could feel the barrier separating Qi Condensation Levels 1 and 2 trembling beneath the accumulated pressure.

"Alright, here we go! Let’s see whether this ridiculous technique makes breakthroughs as difficult as everything else!" Damian exclaimed, his excitement increasing as he directed the final surge of Refined Qi through his meridians.

Fortunately, the anticipated resistance never materialized.

With a little concentration, Damian guided the five elemental currents into perfect alignment, and the barrier separating the two minor realms collapsed almost immediately.

His Qi Sea expanded as the spiraling currents became denser and more vigorous, while an extraordinary sensation spread throughout his consciousness.

[Qi Condensation Level increased!]

[Qi Condensation Level 1 → Qi Condensation Level 2.]

[Five Elements Spiritual Canon advancement benefits applied.]

[INT: 16.0 → 26.0.]

[WIS: 18.6 → 28.6.]

[SPI: 19.5 → 20.0.]

"HOLY SHIT!" Damian exclaimed, his eyes snapping open as the transformation settled throughout his body.

He had known exactly what the technique promised, yet actually experiencing those improvements was an entirely different matter!

His thoughts became noticeably sharper, his comprehension expanded dramatically, and the countless principles he had previously struggled to connect suddenly appeared remarkably straightforward!

Intelligence had increased by more than sixty percent, while Wisdom had improved by over fifty percent, almost doubling both Attributes through a single minor realm breakthrough!

Even the additional half-point of Spirit felt significant, especially considering how difficult that Attribute ordinarily was to improve.

Damian could barely suppress his laughter as he contemplated what would happen if he continued advancing through the remaining Qi Condensation Levels.

However, the Shengyuan Cultivation Record soon interrupted his excitement with another welcome development.

[Shengyuan Cultivation Record

Name: Damian Baines

Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation Level 2

Realm Progress: 0/120,000 Cultivation Base

Cultivation Method: Five Elements Spiritual Canon (Earth)

Technique Mastery: Great Success (49%)]

"One hundred and twenty thousand? That’s actually reasonable!" Damian stated while rubbing his chin, feeling considerably relieved that the requirement had not doubled again.

"Thank goodness this is only a minor realm advancement, because another tenfold increase would’ve been absolute bullshit!" He stated with a shake of his head.

The additional 20,000 Cultivation Base was certainly substantial, but compared to his previous 100,000 point requirement, it was hardly unreasonable.

More importantly, his technique had already reached Great Success at 49%, an astonishing advancement considering how recently he had begun practicing it.

That improvement brought the familiar benefits of increased cultivation efficiency, raising the technique’s effectiveness to approximately 1.5 times its Entry-level value.

Its circulation also became considerably smoother and more stable, reducing the difficulty of refining the enormous quantities of energy Damian was forcing through his meridians.

And the cultivation-speed calculations had changed again!

With Intelligence reaching twenty-six, <Cultivation Prodigy> now provided a 260% speed bonus, while his Constitution-based <Heaven-Devouring Circulation> continued contributing another 460%.

Including his other established advantages, the Essence Surge Pill and the Great Success mastery multiplier, his theoretical cultivation rate had risen to an extraordinary 147.6 times the ordinary baseline!

"Hahaha! So every time I advance, the Attributes I gain make the next advancement even faster!" Damian laughed with arrogance, delighted by the wonderful feedback loop he had discovered.

"This is practically a cultivation snowball, except the snowball is rolling downhill with a rocket engine attached!" He stated with folded arms, looking smug and punchable.

Unfortunately, he had another important decision to make first.

[Special Power: One Feat Per Level activated.]

[Qi Condensation Level 2 advancement detected.]

[Select one Feat.]

Damian opened the Shengyuan Feat Pool and began reviewing his options, although his priorities had changed considerably since the last time he selected a cultivation Feat.

He had experienced numerous battles against dangerous opponents, and those encounters had exposed several weaknesses that his overwhelming offensive power could not always compensate for.

His confrontation with Serra was particularly memorable.

Despite Damian’s extraordinary physical Attributes and access to <Misty Step>, the Moon Elf had repeatedly demonstrated superior short-range mobility during their encounter.

Her evasive movements and unusual techniques had allowed her to survive situations where Damian possessed more than enough destructive power to finish the fight, reminding him that strength meant very little if he couldn’t properly catch his opponent.

Speed was king!

Of course, Damian already possessed excellent long-distance transportation through Longtian’s Flying Sword, but traveling hundreds of kilometers per hour had little to do with the precise movements required during close combat.

What he needed was a movement discipline capable of improving his footwork, positioning and evasive capabilities without constantly relying upon teleportation.

One Feat immediately captured his attention.

<Qinggong Master>!

[Selection Confirmed.]

[Feat Acquired: Qinggong Master.]

[Feat Name: Qinggong Master

Feat Category: Skill

Effect 1: Grants the movement Art <Gale-Treading Steps>, enhancing short-range movement speed, footwork and directional control.

Effect 2: Grants the movement Art <Shadowless Passage>, reducing disturbances, traces and detectable movement signatures during compatible movement.

Effect 3: Grants the movement Art <Cloud Step>, allowing controlled aerial steps and rapid repositioning through Refined Qi.

Note: Movement effectiveness depends upon the Host’s physical Attributes, Refined Qi control and mastery of the individual Arts.]

Damian grinned as the three movement methods entered his understanding, immediately recognizing the combat versatility they provided.

<Gale-Treading Steps> would complement his already formidable Agility, while <Shadowless Passage> offered an excellent method of approaching enemies without announcing his presence through every footstep.

<Cloud Step> was even more interesting, providing controlled aerial movement that could help him alter his position during combat without depending entirely upon the Flying Sword.

It wasn’t a replacement for sustained flight or long-distance travel, but that was hardly the point!

"Excellent! Next time some slippery bastard tries dancing around me, we’ll see who has the better footwork!" Damian declared with clenched fists, already imagining how the techniques could complement his swordsmanship.

"Now, back to cultivation!"

He retrieved another Condensing Essence Pill and swallowed it, expecting the familiar 10,000 point reservoir of medicinal energy.

Unfortunately, when the pill finished dissolving and its energy entered his Qi Sea, the resulting increase was noticeably smaller.

[Condensing Essence Pill Absorbed.]

[Cultivation Base Gained: +9,000.]

"Hmm? Nine thousand? Ah, so the effectiveness is finally starting to decrease!" Damian muttered, examining the notification with a slightly troubled expression.

He had already consumed ten Condensing Essence Pills, and apparently the adaptation penalty had begun applying to the eleventh.

Nevertheless, 9,000 points remained an excellent result, especially because his improved cultivation speed had reduced the time required to refine each pill to approximately four minutes and fifty-three seconds.

That was the truly remarkable part.

Although the medicinal reservoir had decreased, the pill still required approximately the same refinement time because its ordinary twelve-hour absorption process was being compressed by Damian’s current cultivation multiplier.

Thus, the decreasing rewards reduced his total efficiency without necessarily changing how quickly each pill was consumed.

Damian continued swallowing the medicines, carefully observing the changes as his Cultivation Base rose.

By the time he reached his twentieth Condensing Essence Pill, each dose was still supplying 9,000 points, but the twenty-first suddenly produced another unwelcome notification.

[Condensing Essence Pill Absorbed.]

[Cultivation Base Gained: +8,000.]

"Tsk! So the next depreciation threshold has arrived," Damian muttered, his expression becoming serious as he considered the implications.

"I suppose it was inevitable, considering the Valorian adaptation already worked the same way." The young man murmured with a deep sigh of lament.

The difference was that Shengyuan’s medicinal restrictions were considerably more dangerous.

Within Valoria, consuming excessive quantities of these adapted pills primarily resulted in diminishing EXP rewards, eventually making further consumption inefficient.

Shengyuan cultivators, however, faced a far more unpleasant problem because excessive medicinal residue could accumulate within their meridians and dantian, eventually causing severe damage or even death!

Fortunately, Damian possessed another excellent advantage.

<Purified Qi>!

Although its doubled cultivation requirements had caused him considerable suffering, the purity and stability it provided were proving immensely valuable during his current medicinal rampage.

The Feat’s purifying influence prevented pill poison and accumulated medicinal dregs from contaminating his foundation, allowing him to continue absorbing these medicines without suffering the usual consequences.

That was practically a hidden benefit!

"Heh! So the pills become less effective, but I don’t have to worry about poisoning myself to death!" Damian nodded with satisfaction, recovering his enthusiasm almost immediately.

"Ah! What a wonderful world this is when you possess enough ridiculous Feats!" He stated shamelessly, much deserving of a thorough beating.

With that concern settled, Damian continued cultivating until the remaining requirement was finally satisfied.

Another minor barrier collapsed beneath the pressure of his accumulated Refined Qi, and the familiar improvement to his mental Attributes immediately followed.

[Qi Condensation Level increased!]

[Qi Condensation Level 2 → Qi Condensation Level 3.]

[Five Elements Spiritual Canon advancement benefits applied.]

[INT: 26.0 → 36.0.]

[WIS: 28.6 → 38.6.]

[SPI: 20.0 → 20.5.]

The improvement was just as extraordinary as before, although Damian was gradually becoming accustomed to the sensation of his consciousness undergoing dramatic expansion.

What interested him even more was the condition of the Five Elements Spiritual Canon, whose mastery had advanced at a terrifying pace throughout his relentless cultivation session.

[Shengyuan Cultivation Record

Name: Damian Baines

Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation Level 3

Realm Progress: 0/140,000 Cultivation Base

Cultivation Method: Five Elements Spiritual Canon (Earth)

Technique Mastery: Perfection (100%)]

"Perfection already?!" Damian was shocked, staring at the record before bursting into evil goblin-like laughter.

"Ha! Oh, this is truly wonderful kekeke!"

The Five Elements Spiritual Canon now operated at twice its ordinary technique efficiency, producing far smoother circulation, stronger refinement and greater stability than its Entry-level form.

Coupled with his increased Intelligence, that meant his cultivation engine had become even more efficient, reaching a theoretical 220.8-times rate while the Essence Surge effect remained active!

Unfortunately, the next advancement demanded another 140,000 Cultivation Base, which immediately reminded Damian that his cultivation technique possessed absolutely no mercy.

He briefly reopened the Feat Pool and examined several tempting cultivation-speed options, wondering whether acquiring another accelerator would be worthwhile.

However, after considering the matter carefully, he eventually shook his head.

"Dammit, stop being such a bitch, Damian Baines!" he scolded himself, closing the additional options with a determined expression.

"You’ve already got enough cultivation cheats to make a heavenly genius cry, so there’s no point wasting every Feat opportunity chasing another speed multiplier!" He roared, slapping himself on the cheeks harshly.

Besides, he had already decided to strengthen another important aspect of his development.

The Hundred Arts of Cultivation!

Damian possessed considerable knowledge of Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Talismans, Arrays and Spirit Planting, but he had acquired much of that knowledge through the Skill Upgrade System.

Improving his natural aptitude toward these professions would complement his existing expertise and potentially allow him to produce creations far beyond what his current mastery should ordinarily permit.

He selected his next Feat without further hesitation.

[Selection Confirmed.]

[Feat Acquired: Alchemy Saint Prodigy.]

[Feat Name: Alchemy Saint Prodigy

Feat Category: Body

Effect 1: Enhances the Host’s natural Alchemy talent, comprehension and medicinal-energy sensitivity in proportion to INT.

Effect 2: Improves the success rate, impurity control and resulting quality of compatible pill refinement.

Effect 3: Strengthens the Host’s ability to recognize medicinal interactions and refine difficult formulas through practical experimentation.

Current Success Rate Boost: 36%.

Current Alchemy Talent: Intermediate (Natural Talent is Nil).]

Damian’s grin widened as the Feat settled into his body, immediately appreciating the additional sensitivity it provided toward medicinal energy.

With Intelligence already reaching thirty-six, the scaling benefits were bound to become increasingly extraordinary as he continued advancing!

"Good! Alchemy is practically the foundation of cultivation commerce, and I’ve already made enough money selling pills to know how valuable that profession can become!" Damian smirked with narrowed eyes.

............

Time began passing in earnest as Damian immersed himself in cultivation, occasionally replenishing his Essence Surge effect whenever its twelve-hour duration expired.

He continued using available medicinal resources when appropriate, but ordinary mana absorption gradually became a greater part of his routine as his accumulated cultivation advantages grew stronger.

The Five Elements Spiritual Canon had already reached Perfection, meaning the technique itself could no longer provide another mastery multiplier.

However, every advancement continued increasing his Intelligence, which directly strengthened <Cultivation Prodigy> and accelerated his subsequent cultivation.

Qi Condensation Level 3 required 140,000 Cultivation Base to advance, but Damian’s improved cultivation speed made even that enormous requirement manageable.

After another extended session of circulating the five elemental currents, he finally crossed the next threshold and experienced the familiar expansion of his Qi Sea.

[Qi Condensation Level increased!]

[Qi Condensation Level 3 → Qi Condensation Level 4.]

[INT: 36.0 → 46.0.]

[WIS: 38.6 → 48.6.]

[SPI: 20.5 → 21.0.]

Damian marveled at the improvements, particularly the fact that his Intelligence had already reached forty-six points.

That single Attribute was now comparable to his extraordinary Constitution, and its continued growth was making his thoughts clearer and his cultivation efficiency increasingly absurd.

His next Feat selection followed naturally.

[Selection Confirmed.]

[Feat Acquired: Myriad Artifact Insight.]

[Feat Name: Myriad Artifact Insight

Feat Category: Skill

Effect 1: Enhances comprehension of Artifact Refining principles, material properties and compatible crafting techniques in proportion to Intelligence.

Effect 2: Improves precision, energy-channel stability and structural integration during compatible Artifact Refining.

Effect 3: Strengthens the Host’s ability to identify weaknesses and opportunities for improvement in personally examined artifacts.

Current Success Rate Boost: 46%.

Current Artifact Refining Talent: High (Natural Talent is Low)]

Damian was particularly delighted with this selection because of his ambitions surrounding the Supreme Adept equipment and the Longtian Sword.

Although <The Divine Forge> already provided a unique avenue for equipment advancement, greater personal proficiency in Artifact Refining would naturally allow him to design and produce better equipment in the first place.

And with that settled, he returned to cultivation.

The next 160,000 Cultivation Base gradually accumulated as his cultivation engine continued operating at an extraordinary rate, while the five elemental currents within his Qi Sea became increasingly vast and harmonious.

When the final threshold was reached, Damian guided the accumulated power through another breakthrough and felt his consciousness expand once again.

[Qi Condensation Level increased!]

[Qi Condensation Level 4 → Qi Condensation Level 5.]

[INT: 46.0 → 56.0.]

[WIS: 48.6 → 58.6.]

[SPI: 21.0 → 21.5.]

At this point, Damian had practically lost his ability to be surprised by the enormous Attribute improvements, although that certainly didn’t mean he appreciated them any less.

He could now comprehend complex principles almost immediately after encountering them, and even his perception of the surrounding mana felt increasingly detailed.

His next selection addressed another of the Hundred Arts.

[Selection Confirmed.]

[Feat Acquired: Heavenly Script Hand.]

[Feat Name: Heavenly Script Hand

Feat Category: Skill

Effect 1: Enhances Talisman comprehension, inscription precision and symbolic interpretation in proportion to Intelligence.

Effect 2: Improves the stability, energy retention and execution quality of compatible Talismans.

Effect 3: Strengthens the Host’s ability to identify and correct flaws within personally constructed inscriptions.

Current Success Rate Boost: 56%.

Current Talisman Talent: Intermediate (Natural Talent is Nil)]

The next advancement required 180,000 Cultivation Base, but Damian’s cultivation speed had already become so overwhelming that the enormous number no longer intimidated him.

With Intelligence reaching fifty-six, <Cultivation Prodigy> alone provided a 560% speed bonus, which combined beautifully with his other advantages.

The breakthrough arrived after another long period of uninterrupted cultivation.

[Qi Condensation Level increased!]

[Qi Condensation Level 5 → Qi Condensation Level 6.]

[INT: 56.0 → 66.0.]

[WIS: 58.6 → 68.6.]

[SPI: 21.5 → 22.0.]

This time, Damian immediately turned toward Arrays, remembering how invaluable formations had become for protecting his properties and controlling the battlefield.

His previous encounters had repeatedly demonstrated that a properly constructed Array could influence an entire engagement before the enemy even realized they were fighting within one.

[Selection Confirmed.]

[Feat Acquired: Ten Thousand Formation Eyes.]

[Feat Name: Ten Thousand Formation Eyes

Feat Category: Skill

Effect 1: Enhances comprehension of Arrays, formation structures and energy-flow patterns in proportion to Intelligence.

Effect 2: Improves accuracy when identifying formation nodes, weaknesses and compatible structural interactions.

Effect 3: Strengthens precision and stability when constructing, modifying or operating personally understood Arrays.

Current Success Rate Boost: 66%.

Current Array Talent: Top (Natural Talent is Intermediate)]

Damian nodded appreciatively as the Feat integrated with his existing knowledge, immediately recognizing the extraordinary synergy it offered with his perception-related abilities.

Between <Divine Sense>, <Truesight> and his growing understanding of Arrays, investigating and constructing formations would become considerably easier.

Only one Hundred Art remained!

Damian returned to cultivation with renewed enthusiasm, determined to reach Qi Condensation Level 7 before finally taking stock of his improvements.

The next requirement was 200,000 Cultivation Base, an amount that would have terrified him only a short while earlier, but now merely represented another challenge for his increasingly powerful cultivation engine.

By the time he finally completed the necessary accumulation, a little over three days had passed since he first began cultivating the Five Elements Spiritual Canon.

The process had demanded considerable concentration, repeated Essence Surge enhancements and a substantial quantity of medicinal resources, but his results were extraordinary!

[Qi Condensation Level increased!]

[Qi Condensation Level 6 → Qi Condensation Level 7.]

[INT: 66.0 → 76.0.]

[WIS: 68.6 → 78.6.]

[SPI: 22.0 → 22.5.]

Damian slowly opened his eyes, feeling the tremendous spiritual pressure circulating throughout his body as his Refined Qi Sea stabilized at its new level.

Six consecutive minor realm advancements had completely transformed his cultivation foundation, and the strength of his accumulated Qi was incomparably greater than anything he had possessed before!

However, there was still one final Feat awaiting selection.

[Selection Confirmed.]

[Feat Acquired: Verdant Dao Heart.]

[Feat Name: Verdant Dao Heart

Feat Category: Skill

Effect 1: Enhances comprehension of Spirit Planting, plant vitality and compatible growth principles in proportion to Intelligence.

Effect 2: Improves the Host’s ability to nurture, cultivate and maintain compatible Spirit Plants.

Effect 3: Strengthens sensitivity toward environmental conditions, medicinal growth requirements and beneficial cultivation interactions.

Current Success Rate Boost: 76%.

Current Spirit Planting Talent: Profound (Natural Talent is High)]

"Heh heh! All five Hundred Arts are finally accounted for!" Damian exclaimed with a slight smile, finally allowing himself to relax after the extraordinary cultivation marathon.

He had originally intended to pursue Foundation Establishment as quickly as possible, yet the journey through Qi Condensation had already granted him far more than he had expected.

Every advancement had strengthened his mental Attributes, improved his cultivation speed and provided another opportunity to develop his abilities beyond conventional limitations.

Damian finally reopened his Shengyuan Cultivation Record and examined the results with enormous satisfaction.

[Shengyuan Cultivation Record

Name: Damian Baines

Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation Level 7

Realm Progress: 0/220,000 Cultivation Base

Cultivation Method: Five Elements Spiritual Canon (Earth)

Technique Mastery: Perfection (100%)

Martial Skills: Seven-Turn Sword Art (Perfection)

Daoist Arts: Object Control (Entry), Gale-Treading Steps (Entry), Shadowless Passage (Entry), Cloud Step (Entry).]

His Intelligence had risen from 16 to 76, Wisdom from 18.6 to 78.6, and Spirit from 19.5 to 22.5.

Furthermore, <Cultivation Prodigy> now provided an astonishing 760% cultivation-speed bonus, while <Purified Qi> offered a 786% improvement to the purity and related effectiveness of his Qi!

Even without consuming another pill, his current foundation was vastly superior to the one he had possessed when this cultivation session began.

And if he activated another Essence Surge Pill while cultivating with his perfected technique, the theoretical multiplier could now reach an outrageous 316.8 times the ordinary baseline!

Damian couldn’t help laughing as he considered the sheer absurdity of the numbers, feeling a tremendous surge of confidence as the refined power circulating within his body responded to his thoughts.

What had begun as an attempt to catch up with his neglected cultivation had transformed into one of the most extraordinary periods of growth he had experienced since arriving in Valoria!

"Oh yeah! This is what I’m talking about!" Damian sighed with joy, stretching his arms as he felt the tremendous improvement to his spiritual foundation.

"Qi Condensation Level 7, a perfected Earth Rank cultivation technique, six new Feats and enough Intelligence to make my old self look like a complete idiot!"

He slowly rose from his cross-legged position, feeling the immense quantity of Refined Qi circulating within his meridians as a satisfied smile spread across his face.

Foundation Establishment was still waiting ahead, but Damian Baines had just taken an enormous step toward reaching it!