35: Chapter 35 Accelerated Cultivation

Inside the stone cave, there was no concept of day or night; only the faint light leaking through the cracks in the rock wall indicated the passage of time.

After sharing the talent, Lin Xuan did not leave immediately.

He knew well that the improvement of strength was the foundation, and this moment was the best time to test the effect of combining the "Thunder Gathering" talent with the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art.

He first took out two leaves of the mind-calming herb and held them in his mouth—this was his last stock.

The cool, tranquil medicinal power dissolved, protecting his mind and keeping his thoughts clear.

Then, he sat cross-legged, his five hearts facing the sky, and officially began to Cultivate.

He activated the Mind-Cultivation Technique of the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art.

The feeling this time was completely different!

The Spiritual Qi within his Dantian moved like a Dragon, more lively and refined than ever before. As soon as the Cultivation Technique started, he noticed changes in his surroundings.

The Thunder Spiritual Energy, which had been sparse in the stone cave, now seemed to be under an invisible summons. It seeped in through the cracks in the rock wall and from between the vines at the cave entrance, actively gathering toward him.

More importantly, when this Spiritual Qi entered within a three-foot radius of his body, it felt as if it had been combed by an invisible hand; the violent and chaotic factors were weakened and smoothed out, becoming easy to accept.

The process of drawing it into his body was so smooth that it almost made him want to shed tears.

In the past, every time he drew Qi into his body, it was like pushing a boulder up a mountain—difficult and obscure; it was lucky if he could refine one strand out of ten.

But now, it was like sailing with the current, effortless; he could refine seven or eight strands out of ten!

The efficiency had increased by more than several times.

He guided this gentle yet pure Thunder Spiritual Energy along the route of the first level of the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art.

When it reached the nodes that required using the power of thunder to temper his Meridians, the change was even more obvious.

The strand of originally violent thunder power excited by the Cultivation Technique now actually became much more "obedient."

Lin Xuan could perceive every change in it more clearly, and when controlling it to impact and cleanse his Meridians and acupoints, his precision was greatly improved.

The pain remained—thunder Body Tempering was essentially painful.

But the effect of widening his Meridians and purifying his Spiritual Qi brought by the pain was more than 30% better than before!

Moreover, the minor damage to his Meridians seemed to be reduced because the Spiritual Qi was gentler and the control was more precise.

"The Thunder Gathering talent is not just about fast absorption, but also an improvement in the control over 'Thunder'..." Lin Xuan realized during his Cultivation.

He was immersed in this unprecedentedly smooth Cultivation, forgetting the passage of time.

As the medicinal effect of the mind-calming herb gradually faded, he relied on his own willpower to persist. When hungry, he gnawed on some jerky; when thirsty, he drank the remaining fresh water in his waterskin.

A day passed.

Inside his Dantian, Spiritual Qi formed one after another, merging into the Qi cyclone. The speed was nearly five times faster than before!

On the second day, several more strands of Spiritual Qi took shape. The speed of Cultivation not only did not slow down due to the increase in Spiritual Qi but steadily improved due to his deeper understanding of the Cultivation Technique and more proficient control of Spiritual Qi.

During this time, he occasionally used his inner vision to look at the Spirit-Taming Tower Space.

The Thunder-Light Bug still lived in harmony with the thunder-attracting vine, and in the area where it was located, the Thunder Spiritual Energy was significantly denser and more orderly than elsewhere.

The Herb-Seeking Mouse also seemed to benefit, dozing nearby, its purple fur deepening by a shade.

The space itself seemed to be expanding slowly and firmly because of the "Thunder Gathering" of the Thunder-Light Bug and the growth of the thunder-attracting vine, with the grey fog at the edges receding a little more.

The evening of the third day.

The moment the forty-ninth strand of Spiritual Qi was completely stabilized, Lin Xuan felt a sense of fullness in his Dantian.

The stable Qi cyclone formed by the thirty-six basic strands of Spiritual Qi had now expanded and solidified significantly, and its rotation speed was getting faster and faster, as if reaching a certain critical point.

"It is time."

Lin Xuan focused his mind and injected all the pure Spiritual Qi accumulated over the past three days, along with the medicinal power dissolved from the last Qi-returning pill he held in his mouth, into the Dantian Qi cyclone!

"Boom—!"

It felt as if a thunderclap had exploded within his body!

The Dantian Qi cyclone expanded violently, instantly growing a size larger! The forty-nine strands of Spiritual Qi spun crazily and merged; when they finally stabilized, a brand-new, more solid and massive Spiritual Qi cyclone had formed!

The total amount of Spiritual Qi surged, the circulation speed increased, and the recovery ability was strengthened.

Qi Refining Level 2, achieved naturally!

Lin Xuan opened his eyes, a flash of light purple electricity flickering in his pupils before fading away.

He let out a long breath of turbid air, and within that breath, there were tiny electric arcs that flickered and vanished in the dim stone cave.

The Breakthrough was complete.

He felt the Spiritual Qi in his body, which had surged by nearly double, felt his tougher and wider Meridians, and felt the clear world brought by the further improvement of his five senses—the trajectory of water vapor flowing on the rock wall, the faint chirping of insects far outside the vines, and he could even vaguely "hear" the subtle sound of Spiritual Qi flowing in the space.

His strength had taken a leap in all aspects.

He stood up and stretched his body, which had become stiff from sitting for so long; his joints made a crisp cracking sound.

He casually drew the qingyun sword and injected a strand of Spiritual Qi.

The sword hummed! The light purple electricity was no longer just attached to the surface but emanated from inside the spine of the sword; the whole sword seemed to come alive, with a piercing sharpness.

With a light swing, the sword blade cut through the air, creating a faint sound of breaking air and a trace of a scorched smell—that was the air being dissociated by the lightning.

"The power has increased by at least double, while the consumption has actually decreased." Lin Xuan sheathed the sword with satisfaction.

He also tried to cast Spells. A Lightning Strike Technique was shot out, the electric light as solid as an arrow, faster, and it exploded a bowl-sized scorched pit upon hitting the rock wall; the power was far beyond that of Level 1 Qi Refining.

When he used the Wind Control Technique, his movements were lighter and more elusive; the Breath Concealment Technique was activated, and his presence almost completely disappeared; the range of the Earth Listening Technique expanded to seventy zhang, allowing him to distinguish more details.

"Now, I finally have the confidence to explore the valley." Lin Xuan clenched his fists.

He organized his remaining supplies: except for a few Talismans and Medicinal Pills for life-saving, the rest were basically used up. There were about ten days left until the valley closed.

"Next, the goal needs to change."

Before, it was for survival and basic resources; now that his strength had improved, and he possessed the Thunder Gathering talent and the growing Thunder-Light Bug and thunder-attracting vine, he needed more targeted resources.

First, find spiritual materials beneficial to thunder-attribute living beings to promote the growth of the Thunder-Light Bug and the thunder-attracting vine.

Second, keep an eye out for other potential thunder-attribute resource points to prepare for future Cultivation of the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art and to improve the Thunder Gathering talent.

Third... regarding that Purple Lightning Sable. Although he was far from being a match for it now, he could collect information and observe its weaknesses. The path of Cultivation is long; there might be an opportunity in the future.

He removed the warning mechanism at the cave entrance, pushed aside the vines, and crawled out.

It was afternoon outside, and the fog was thin. The sunlight struggled to pierce through the grey-purple mist, casting mottled light and shadows.

Lin Xuan determined the direction—he decided to explore deeper into the valley, toward areas where the map markings were relatively vague; those places were rarely visited and might contain good things.

With the Breath Concealment Technique fully activated, his figure merged into the mist.

After breaking through to Qi Refining Level 2, his control over Spiritual Qi was more precise, and the effect of the Breath Concealment Technique was also a step higher; he moved like a ghost.

An hour later, he entered an unfamiliar area.

The vegetation here was denser, and many deep purple trees, rare in the outer areas, appeared, with twisted trunks and thick leaves. The air was filled with a faint, fishy, sweet smell, like a mixture of some humus and miasma.

He released the Herb-Seeking Mouse to scout the path. After breaking through to the first-tier Low Grade, its detection range expanded, and its forewarning of danger became more acute.

Suddenly, the Herb-Seeking Mouse stopped behind a cluster of ferns, its fur standing on end, emitting a low "hissing" warning sound.

Lin Xuan immediately stopped, lowered his body, and deployed the Earth Listening Technique.

About twenty zhang ahead, at the edge of a muddy swamp, came a "rustling" friction sound.

Soon, a snake-like body, as thick as a bucket and covered in dark green scales, slowly emerged from the mire.

That was a "Poison-Fog Python," a first-tier Low Grade Peak Yao Beast, equivalent to a human Level 3 Qi Refining Cultivator.

Its body was a size larger than the Mist-Hidden Python he had encountered before; its head was triangular, its scarlet snake tongue flickered, and foul-smelling mucus dripped from the corners of its mouth.

The most dangerous part was the poison gland on its neck; once startled, it would spray a mist with paralytic toxicity.

If it were before, Lin Xuan would have chosen to go around. A first-tier Low Grade Peak beast with poison-fog ability was not easy to deal with.

But now...

His eyes turned cold.

Just right to use you to test my strength.

Lin Xuan quietly moved to the side behind a giant tree. The Poison-Fog Python seemed to be foraging by the swamp, its vigilance not high.

He pinched a Spell with his left hand, and Thunder Spiritual Energy condensed rapidly at his fingertips—after the Breakthrough, the condensation speed of the Lightning Strike Technique was another 30% faster.

Aim.

The Poison-Fog Python seemed to sense something, and its head lifted abruptly!

Now!

"Lightning Strike Technique!"

A light purple electric bolt, as solid as an arrow, tore through the mist and accurately hit the position just below the Poison-Fog Python's seven inches—that was where its heart was, and the scales were relatively weak!

"Puchi!"

The electric light exploded, scales splashed, and blood gushed out!

"Hiss—!!" The Poison-Fog Python let out a shrill hiss, its massive body twisting crazily, stirring up the muddy swamp water.

Its scarlet eyes instantly locked onto the big tree where Lin Xuan was hiding, the poison gland on its neck swelled, and a ball of grey-green poison fog was about to be sprayed!

Lin Xuan was no longer in the original spot.

With the Wind Control Technique activated, his figure was like lightning as he flashed out from behind the tree, not retreating but advancing, pouncing directly at the Poison-Fog Python!

The Poison-Fog Python swung its tail in anger, carrying the force of a thousand catties!

Lin Xuan shifted his feet, his figure narrowly grazing past the python's tail, and at the same time, the qingyun sword was unsheathed, the sword body shining with bright lightning, slashing at the middle section of the python's body with one sword!

"Chi la!"

The sword blade, attached with pure Thunder Spiritual Energy, was much sharper than before, actually tearing through the tough scales and cutting half a foot into the flesh!

The Poison-Fog Python, in extreme pain, turned its head to bite, the fishy wind hitting his face!

Lin Xuan was exceptionally calm; his left hand shot out another Lightning Strike Technique at close range, directly blasting into its open mouth!

"Boom!"

The electric light exploded inside the python's mouth, the Poison-Fog Python's entire head was knocked backward by the electricity, and the poison fog spray was interrupted.

Taking this opportunity, Lin Xuan leaped up, the lightning on the qingyun sword condensed to the extreme, and he stabbed with full force at the wound on its seven inches!

"Pu!"

The sword blade pierced through the body, and the Thunder Spiritual Energy exploded inside!

The Poison-Fog Python twitched violently a few times and collapsed with a crash, splashing a large amount of mud and water.

The battle ended.

From the attack to killing the enemy, it took less than ten breaths.

Lin Xuan panted slightly, looking at the python corpse that was gradually stiffening on the ground, a sense of heroism rising in his heart.

At Level 1 Qi Refining, dealing with an Iron-Tooth Wild Boar took twenty breaths and required maneuvering. Now, facing a stronger and more dangerous Poison-Fog Python, he could kill it instantly!

This was the qualitative change brought by the improvement of his Realm and the sharing of his talent!

He quickly processed the python corpse: the poison sac was carefully removed, the python skin was peeled off as completely as possible, and the python meat was also divided, cut, and put into the Beast Taming Space.

After doing all this, he left the area immediately—the smell of blood might attract other things.

After finding a stream to wash up, Lin Xuan continued to go deeper.

The sun was setting, dyeing the valley in gold and purple.

He looked back in the direction of the claw mark area and touched the identity jade token in his bosom—it recorded his gains from this trip, and also recorded his growth.

"Nine days left."

Lin Xuan turned around and walked toward the deeper, mistier part of the valley.

His back stretched long in the sunset, firm and steady.