118: Chapter 118: The Power of the New Cultivation Technique

As he began to Cultivate, the creation cauldron projected the Cultivation Technique into his Sea of Consciousness.

A transparent panel, visible only to Xiao Yuan, materialized before him.

[Heavenly Understanding of Array Dao]

Tier 1 Progress: 1%

Tier 2 Progress: Locked

Tier 3 Progress: Locked

Xiao Yuan tried to channel a strand of the creation cauldron's energy and inject it into his cultivation of the Essentials of Array Dao.

Buzz—

A massive influx of knowledge instantly flooded his mind!

The basic theories of Formations, the techniques of carving Formation runes, the principles and cracking methods of various Formations... like a floodgate opening, it poured frantically into his head!

And the numbers on the panel began to tick upward rapidly!

Tier 1 Progress: 2%... 3%... 5%... 10%...

Xiao Yuan felt a surge of joy. As expected, the creation cauldron could also accelerate the cultivation progress of the Heavenly Understanding of Array Dao.

Rather than saying the creation cauldron was adding experience points to the Cultivation Technique, it was more accurate to say that the creation cauldron's energy was enhancing Xiao Yuan's Comprehension Ability of the Cultivation Technique.

After all, the Heavenly Understanding of Array Dao was mostly knowledge-based, whereas other Cultivation Techniques directly enhanced his physical strength.

He glanced at the energy consumption of the creation cauldron! It was practically negligible!

This energy quality was more than a grade higher than before!

Even though Xiao Yuan had already guessed as much, seeing it with his own eyes still filled him with wild joy.

In the past, when he used the creation cauldron's energy to Cultivate, it was measured in 'drops'. Using even a little extra would break his heart.

But now, after channeling it for so long, the energy bar had barely decreased!

Not only had he replenished a massive amount of energy this time, but the improved quality of the energy had also reduced the consumption!

With a thought, he channeled another strand of energy and injected it into the Five Elements Rotation Technique.

As the Cultivation Technique circulated, his cultivation progress indeed began to rise!

Although it was slower than the Array Dao, compared to the previous snail's pace and immense consumption, it was countless times faster and consumed far less!

Xiao Yuan made a rough estimate. At this rate, supplemented by the ziyun pills and with the help of the creation cauldron's energy, it was entirely possible to charge to the eighteenth level of Qi Condensation within a few days!

After all, he now had the Materials for fifty to sixty batches of ziyun pills. At twelve pills per batch, that was six to seven hundred Medicinal Pills!

Even if his Aptitude was terrible, he could simply force his way up with sheer quantity!

But for now, the most important thing was to master the Array Dao.

Suppressing his excitement, he focused entirely on cultivating the Array Dao.

Time passed second by second.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Yuan opened his eyes and looked at the panel in his mind.

[Heavenly Understanding of Array Dao]

Tier 1 Progress: 100% (Perfection)

Tier 2 Progress: 1%

“Tier 2!” He grinned. Although the progress was a bit slower than expected, this was, after all, a Cultivation Technique that had been enhanced by the creation cauldron.

If it were still the previous Essentials of Array Dao, he probably would have reached Tier 3 by now!

However, even though the Tier 2 progress was only at 1% now, at this rate, reaching Tier 3 within a few days would not be a problem at all.

By then, the Tier 3 Formation outside should be easily cracked, right?

Xiao Yuan had just finished cultivating and woke up from his meditative state. When he looked up, he froze.

The six women had woken up at some point and were all staring at him in unison.

Their expressions were so complex they could have opened a dye shop.

Su Li was as calm as ever, as if nothing had happened, though a deep tenderness was hidden in the depths of her eyes as she looked at him.

Ye Qingcen, on the other hand, was full of resentment. She looked at Xiao Yuan one moment and the other women the next, her jealousy so strong it could be smelled from miles away.

Su Ruotong's expression was complicated, a trace of blush still lingering on her face.

The two Junior Sisters from the Jade Maiden Palace were also reacting; one was shy and timid, while the other was utterly lost, both of them dodging his gaze and not daring to look at him.

Lin Qingxue was the most conflicted. Her mouth opened, but she hesitated, ultimately just sighing.

Xiao Yuan: "..."

Damn it, this is social death.

He cleared his throat and forced himself to speak, "Uh... about what just happened..."

“No need to explain,” Su Ruotong spoke first. Although her voice was still a bit unnatural, she had regained her usual coldness. “We all know it was excusable under the circumstances.”

Lin Qingxue nodded and took over, “When we were sucked in, we felt an evil energy enter our bodies. Although our consciousness was hazy at the time, we still know what happened.”

The two Jade Maiden Palace Junior Sisters also spoke up timidly, “Senior Brother Xiao, this... is not your fault.”

Ye Qingcen opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she just glared fiercely at Xiao Yuan. Her look clearly said: 'You got a bargain and you're still acting like the victim!'

Su Li smiled gently, saying nothing, and just walked silently to his side.

Xiao Yuan felt a warmth in his heart, knowing she was supporting him through her actions.

Su Ruotong continued, “We are all seekers of longevity. Matters of love are but stumbling blocks on the path to immortality. Let's just act as if this never happened. Cultivators don't need to worry about such trivialities.”

Lin Qingxue also nodded in agreement, “Senior Sister Su is right. Let's just act as if this never happened.”

Xiao Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, but felt inexplicably a bit disappointed. He really hadn't expected them to be even more free-spirited than him! However, this was for the best; at least, the guilt in his heart would be much lighter!

“Alright, alright, you guys call the shots,” he quickly changed the subject. “By the way, do you want to know what just happened?”

The women's attention was immediately drawn.

Xiao Yuan briefly explained the matter of Li Qingyun—of course, omitting certain less-than-harmonious details.

“So, we are now trapped in this space?” Su Ruotong frowned.

Xiao Yuan nodded, “Yes. The exit is blocked by a Tier 3 Formation, and we have to find a way to crack it.”

“A Tier 3 Formation?!” Ye Qingcen exclaimed. “That is equivalent to a Formation of the Golden Core Stage! Who among us can crack it?”

Xiao Yuan pointed at himself, “Me.”

The women all stared at him in unison, their eyes screaming, 'Are you sure?'

Xiao Yuan explained, “I obtained a copy of the *Essentials of Array Dao* from Li Qingyun. As long as I Cultivate it to Tier 3, I can crack that Formation.”

He didn't tell the six women the truth; he couldn't very well tell them that he had the creation cauldron, which had upgraded the quality of the Cultivation Technique!

“Tier 3?!” Lin Qingxue's eyes widened. “Senior Brother Xiao, cultivating Formations is not something that happens overnight. Even if you are already a Tier 2 Formation Master, making a Breakthrough to Tier 3 would take at least several years, if not over a decade!”

Su Ruotong also frowned, “Furthermore, cracking a Tier 3 Formation requires a Divine Sense strength of at least Peak Foundation Establishment. Your current cultivation...”

Xiao Yuan smiled, “Give me three days.”

If he didn't have the creation cauldron, it really might have been extremely difficult! But with the creation cauldron, none of it was hard!

“Three days?!” the women exclaimed in unison, looking at him as if he were a madman.

Xiao Yuan didn't offer any further explanation, merely saying calmly, “Trust me.”

He secretly felt fortunate.

Fortunately, that old fellow Li Qingyun's Divine Soul was only at the Early Golden Core stage, and the Formation he set up was only Tier 3.

If it had been Tier 4, he really would have been helpless—with his current strength, he couldn't unlock the Tier 4 content of the *Heavenly Understanding of Array Dao* at all.

Even if he could grind it out bit by bit, the Secret Realm would close in about half a month. Where would he find the time?

Moreover, Luo Ziyan had not been found yet.