154: The Hardcore Theory of Cultivation (Not to be Imitated)

Over the next few days, Lu Chen immersed himself in a sea of books, thoroughly researching what Cultivation in this world was all about!

First, to reach the Qi Refining Layer, one must Dual Cultivate.

That is to say, one must choose two Pathways from the Five Elements, eight gates, twelve zodiac signs, and twenty-eight mansions to have a chance of breaking through the extraordinary and becoming a Qi Refining Immortal!

The Qi Refining Layer is divided into Early Stage (Layers 1-3), Middle Stage (Layers 4-6), and Late Stage (Layers 7-9), each corresponding to three calamities: Fire Calamity, Wind Calamity, and Thunder Calamity!

After completing the three calamities, one enters Qi Refining Perfection.

Next is Foundation Establishment, which is the most difficult part of Cultivation, comparable to advanced mathematics.

The most fundamental difference between the Foundation Establishment Stage and the Qi Refinement Stage is that Cultivators can open an inner Cave Heaven upon successful Foundation Establishment.

This small world, unique to the individual Cultivator, is not only a sign of a Breakthrough in Cultivation but also the key to a qualitative change in combat methods.

When a Cultivator breaks through from Qi Refining Great Perfection to the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, a marvelous internal coiling phenomenon occurs in their spiritual power; the Spiritual Qi originally scattered throughout the Meridians will form a stable spiritual power vortex in the Dantian, eventually opening up an independently existing dimensional space within the Cultivator's body—this is the Cultivator's Cave Heaven.

The appearance of the Cave Heaven completely changed the Cultivator's Cultivation method and combat style.

Firstly, in terms of Spiritual Qi reserves, Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators can only rely on the limited Spiritual Qi flowing in their Meridians, while Foundation Establishment Cultivators can store a large amount of Spiritual Qi within their Cave Heaven, which geometrically increases their endurance during combat.

A typical Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator's Cave Heaven stores at least ten times the total Spiritual Qi of a Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivator.

Even more miraculous, the Spiritual Qi stored in the Cave Heaven automatically purifies over time, making the Spells cast by Foundation Establishment Cultivators several times more powerful than those cast during the Qi Refinement Stage.

Secondly, in terms of Magic Treasure usage, the Cave Heaven provides Cultivators with unprecedented convenience.

Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators can only carry Magic Treasures with them, and their quantity and quality are strictly limited.

Foundation Establishment Cultivators, however, can store various Magic Treasures within their Cave Heaven for nourishment, not only removing the limit on the number they can carry but, more importantly, the special environment within the Cave Heaven can continuously improve the quality of the Magic Treasures.

Some Cultivation families with ancient Legacies even prepare special "Cave Heaven Nourishment Arts" for their Disciples, allowing Magic Treasures to operate in specific trajectories within the Cave Heaven to gain additional attribute bonuses.

In terms of Spell casting, the role of the Cave Heaven is even more irreplaceable.

Many high-level Spells cannot be cast during the Qi Refinement Stage, not because Cultivators don't know the incantations, but because these Spells require immense spiritual power as support, and also a special "Spell structure" space.

The Cave Heaven just happens to provide such an environment; Cultivators can pre-construct complex Spell models within the Cave Heaven, and only need to inject spiritual power to release them instantly during combat.

For example, the famous "Nine Heavens Thunder Spell"; a Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator would struggle to cast it even using all their spiritual power, while a Foundation Establishment Cultivator can easily accomplish it with the help of the Cave Heaven.

It is worth noting that the characteristics of each Cultivator's Cave Heaven will vary depending on their Cultivation Pathway.

Cultivators who Cultivate fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques often have their Cave Heaven filled with scorching fire Spiritual Qi;

While Cultivators specializing in water-attribute may have their Cave Heaven appear as a vast ocean.

This difference not only affects the attributes of the Spiritual Qi within the Cave Heaven but also determines which Spells can receive additional bonuses within the Cave Heaven.

Experienced Cultivators can roughly judge an opponent's Cultivation path by observing the overflowing aura from their Cave Heaven.

The complexity of the Cultivation Pathway directly determines the scale and quality of the Cave Heaven.

Cultivators who follow a single Pathway progress faster, but their Cave Heaven often has a simple structure and limited capacity. However, Cultivators who dare to attempt multiple Pathways simultaneously, although facing several times the Cultivation difficulty, once successful, their Cave Heaven will present an astonishing composite form.

Some peerless Geniuses can construct a composite Cave Heaven with all Five Elements during the Foundation Establishment Stage; such a Cave Heaven not only has dozens of times the capacity of an ordinary Cave Heaven but also allows Cultivators to cast cross-attribute composite Spells, making their strength far surpass those of the same Realm.

However, more Cultivation Pathways are not necessarily better, because the more Pathways there are, the greater the Cultivation difficulty, and the power of the Heavenly Tribulation will also double.

Cultivation Difficulty: twenty-eight mansions > twelve zodiac signs > eight gates > Five Elements

Most Cultivators, throughout their entire lives, cannot open a third Cultivation Pathway; the difficulty is too great.

Even if a Heaven-Defying Talent manages to open a third Pathway and reaches the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, wanting to Breakthrough and condense a Golden Core is like thousands of soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge, competing for a Core Position.

Golden Cores are divided into Common Core Positions and Exclusive Core Positions.

The Dao of the Golden Core is divided into two major systems: Common Core Positions and Exclusive Core Positions.

Common Core Positions are condensed from a single attribute, such as the [Metal] Core Position among the Five Elements, the [Life] Core Position among the eight gates, the [Pig] Core Position among the twelve zodiac signs, and the [Horn] Core Position among the twenty-eight mansions.

Although these Core Positions have the lowest Cultivation threshold, they attract countless Cultivators to compete for them.

Each type of Common Core Position can only accommodate nine individuals at the top; first come, first served.

If a latecomer can achieve a Breakthrough under the same conditions with faster speed, more novel methods, and more precise techniques, they can replace any one of the top nine.

Even if the replaced individual has already become a Golden Core Immortal, they will fall to the Quasi-Golden Core Realm, becoming what people call a Banished Immortal.

Exclusive Core Positions are completely different; they are formed by cleverly combining two, three, or four of the four major Pathways to create a unique Golden Core position.

For example, the combination of Metal and Dragon can form the Golden Dragon Core Position;

The combination of Metal, Life Gate, and Black Tortoise forms the Golden Life Black Core Position.

What is particularly special is that when three Pathways are perfectly combined, a Natal Divine Ability will be derived.

Taking Metal, Life Gate, and Black Tortoise as an example, their fusion can awaken the "Profound Metal Suppressing Prison" Divine Ability—using sharp metal Qi to condense a Black Tortoise Dharma Idol to suppress powerful enemies, and even continuously extract spiritual power from the enemy's body, transforming it into Life Gate earth Qi to nourish the caster.

Anyone who awakens such a Divine Ability is respectfully called a Divine Ability Immortal Venerable, and people often refer to them by the name of their Divine Ability, such as Suppressing Prison Immortal Venerable, Burning Heaven Immortal Venerable, etc.

According to all the information gathered from the Horse-Slaying Gang, currently, in this world, the number of Divine Ability Immortal Venerables does not exceed five, Golden Core Immortals do not exceed a hundred, while there are several hundred Banished Immortals.

After reading all the materials related to Cultivation theory, Lu Chen could only exclaim, "Awesome!"

As expected of the Cultivation system designed by mechanical girl zero, it is much more complex than the previous Cultivation template.

What's even more outrageous is that the Tianqi Continent has existed for tens of thousands of years, yet no one has cultivated to the Nascent Soul Stage!

Beyond the Golden Core, there is no Cultivation theory; everything relies on self-exploration.

Lu Chen speculated that since no one has cultivated to the Nascent Soul Stage for so many years, perhaps everyone's Cultivation direction is wrong, and all Cultivators are competing for Core Positions, vying for Core Positions.

Some Divine Ability Immortal Venerables even forcibly extracted the Spiritual Roots of other Golden Core Immortals and refined their Golden Cores, attempting a Breakthrough, but all failed.

According to the strongest Cultivation Technique Lu Chen possessed, the "Six Paths Chaotic Heaven Art," one only needs to shatter the Core into a fetus to form a Nascent Soul!

But how could an Immortal Venerable at Golden Core Perfection be willing to shatter their Core? That's why no one has reached the Nascent Soul Stage.

Lu Chen's confidence greatly increased!

Qi Refining Layer! Immortal Realm! Nothing more than this!

Lu Chen was confident that he would become the first Nascent Soul Immortal Lord in this world!

... In the Tianwu Dynasty, Emperor Zhao Zheng suddenly felt the heavens and earth rumble; this was a premonition of an unstable Core Position!

Zhao Zheng had an ominous premonition: "Lin... Bai Qi! I suddenly feel a headache; quickly help me investigate if anyone in the Cultivation world has recently broken through, especially concerning the Golden Dragon Pathway! Hmph, anyone who threatens my Core Position shall be executed immediately!

At the same time, announce to the world that any Cultivator among my Tianwu citizens with the Golden Dragon Pathway can come to Tianwu Imperial City, and there will be a generous reward!"