Chapter 73: The Key Lies in the Crucial Point

The system assistant had once mentioned that one could synthesize multiple ultimate techniques from the eighteen thousand martial skills in the Library Pavilion, among which there was even a Grandmaster-level art. However, to deduce such an ultimate technique, just the gold-elemental essence alone would require a hundred thousand units—it was, without doubt, exorbitantly expensive.

Yet now, three Grandmaster-level arts could be acquired for merely a hundred thousand, which was an absolute bargain.

As he pondered this, Qingxi suddenly realized he didn’t even possess a hundred thousand essence. His expression froze instantly.

That night, Qingxi returned the ancient tome that recorded the cultivation method and left the Library Pavilion with Qiu Yingying.

“Senior Sister, is it truly so difficult to ascend to the Innate Realm?”

He already had the cultivation method and knew the meridian routes, but the techniques and subtleties were a complete mystery to him. As a prodigy, Qiu Yingying ought to have unique insights in this area.

“The Innate Realm is neither too difficult nor too easy to reach,” Qiu Yingying explained with great patience. “Cultivators in the Qi Refining stage gather elemental energy, but to ascend to the Innate Realm, this energy must be refined into Innate Qi, also known as true qi. This is a process of transformation, so it takes a long time to condense. As for the key, I do have some insights, for example…”

Qingxi listened thoughtfully, occasionally asking a question, to which Qiu Yingying always responded fluently. This exchange proved immensely beneficial to Qingxi.

Only when the night grew deep did the two finally depart.

Back at his residence, Qingxi began to recall the key points Qiu Yingying had shared.

“The transition from elemental energy to true qi is a kind of metamorphosis. Though following the meridian routes as outlined in the cultivation method will allow a steady conversion, the speed depends greatly on the quality of one’s spiritual root. Fortunately, my spiritual root is of high grade; though not on par with Senior Sister, it’s still four times superior to an inferior grade root. That’s quite respectable.”

Once Qingxi had calmed his mind, he began studying the Innate Chapter of the Qi Condensation Technique.

The meridian routes described within were even more complex, and a single circulation of the great cycle now took much longer. As Qingxi began the process, he quickly discovered that his meridians were under immense strain.

Were it not for his physical strength having advanced to rival that of a mid-tier mystical beast, his meridians might have ruptured under the pressure.

Thanks to his bodily advantage, he could endure far longer than other Qi Refiners, enabling him to complete the metamorphosis of his elemental energy more swiftly.

“Let’s begin the refinement!”

Taking a deep breath, Qingxi guided his elemental energy like a flowing stream through his meridians. The pressure left them swollen and aching, but he forced it down, finally completing the first full circulation of the great cycle.

Exhausted and sore, he noticed a strand of exceptionally condensed white qi in his energy sea, radiating a sharper aura than ordinary elemental energy.

If elemental energy was a dull blade, then this true qi was a keen kitchen knife.

“So this is true qi?” Qingxi rejoiced inwardly.

The assistant chimed in, “There’s no need to doubt, Host. This is indeed true qi. At the moment, one percent of your elemental energy has been refined.”

“Only one percent?” Qingxi glanced outside and saw the sky was already brightening.

He realized that after spending most of the night, he had only completed one percent of the transformation. At this rate, would it not take several months to finish?

“This is already fast enough! If not for your superior physique and the fourfold speed of your high-grade spiritual root, anyone with an inferior root would need at least five years of nonstop effort to complete the transformation.”

The assistant’s words reminded Qingxi of something.

Feeling the soreness all over his body, he asked, “If even with my current strength the burden of refining elemental energy is this heavy, wouldn’t an ordinary person risk their body exploding?”

“At peak Qi Refining, there are about thirteen hundred strands of elemental energy in the body. Most people refine them one by one, but you’re refining over a dozen at once. Of course the strain is enormous.”

Qingxi fell into contemplation, then his eyes lit up. “I almost forgot—when I was out on missions, didn’t I absorb a great deal of vital energy?”

The assistant immediately guessed his intention. “You want to use vital energy to heal your injuries, then increase the amount you refine each cycle? It’s possible, but Host, you’re really pushing your limits!”

“I won’t die!” Qingxi immediately tapped into the vital energy stored in the system space. Cool currents surged through his body, soothing the soreness and soon restoring him completely.

He began the cultivation method anew.

By the time his store of vital energy was depleted, a tenth of the elemental energy in his energy sea had transformed.

And only a day had passed.

After this high-intensity training, Qingxi collapsed to the ground, exhausted. “Luckily, as long as I have enough vital energy, I can recklessly convert elemental energy into true qi. At this pace, I might break through in less than half a month.”

Suddenly, Qingxi realized something.

He asked, “Pipi, aren’t you supposed to be able to transform any kind of energy? So… can you turn elemental energy directly into true qi?”

The assistant replied in a disdainful tone, “Of course. It would cost ten units of essence to convert one strand of true qi. In other words, as long as you spend more than twelve thousand units, you can complete the transformation instantly.”

“Twelve thousand units… Why don’t you just rob me?”

Although he currently had enough essence, Qingxi felt it was too wasteful to spend it all just to improve his cultivation.

At his present rate, he could finish the transformation in at most half a month—there was no need to rush.

More importantly, despite the soreness brought by the process, Qingxi noticed that after each round of healing with vital energy, his control over his strength became noticeably more refined.

It was just as the old saying went:

Without enduring the piercing cold, how can the plum blossoms perfume the air?

Qingxi gradually steadied his mood.

He decided that unless it was absolutely necessary, he would not use the five-element essence for direct cultivation.

The primary use of essence should be to improve the grade of his spiritual root, or to deduce ultimate arts useful to him.

On the path of cultivation, one could certainly “pay to win,” but only if the resources were spent in the most effective way.

This was, as he thought, the true art of focused investment.

The assistant felt no disappointment in this.

Though it often urged Qingxi to use his essence, it would only ever advise, never force.

Moreover, what it desired most was for Qingxi to use the five-element essence to enhance his spiritual root.

This was the most critical factor affecting the system’s ability to convert, absorb, and deduce.

Compared to the effect of cultivation on these functions, improving the spiritual root was far more significant.

After his meal, Qingxi walked into the dense forest.

As he passed, a sliver of vital energy would be quietly drawn from the life force of every living creature and stored in the system space.

Each creature contained a good amount of vital energy.

Extracting a single strand would not harm them in the least.

After half an hour, Qingxi had harvested a considerable amount of vital energy and returned to his room to continue his breakthrough.

To ascend to the Innate Realm, he had to first convert all his elemental energy into true qi.

Then, with powerful true qi, he could strike at the barrier of his cultivation, expanding his energy sea and meridians, and truly step into the Innate Realm.

Three days later, about a third of his elemental energy had been transformed.

Concluding his cultivation, Qingxi lightly knocked on Ouyang Changfeng’s door, wanting to see if he had returned.

To his surprise, just as his knuckle touched the door, it swung open from within.

Qingxi’s gaze sharpened as he stared at the floor inside the room.