67: Chapter 67 Spirit Gathering Secret Realm

"Three days?"

Principal Li, who hadn't been happy for long, felt his heart sink once again.

Mental Strength was something ethereal and elusive.

Before reaching the Spirit Ascension Realm, a typical Martial Artist's Mental Strength would only increase slightly with Realm Breakthroughs or by tempering their will.

There was simply no way to actively Cultivate it.

But seeing Zhong Quandao's grave expression and earnest tone, his words seemed to hold a deeper meaning.

Principal Li hurriedly asked:

"Senior Zhong, is there any way?"

Chen Moxuan also turned his gaze toward Zhong Quandao.

In reality, he was no longer afraid of that Spirit-Eroding Blood Curse.

Just a moment ago, when his Mental Energy came into direct contact with the Spirit-Eroding Blood Curse in his body, he discovered that he could already observe the full picture of the curse.

This meant that he could use his Special Ability to analyze it.

[Attempting to analyze the Spirit-Eroding Blood Curse, estimated time required: 3 hours and 16 minutes]

He had never encountered the Blood Curse Technique of the Blood Race before, so the analysis would take a very long time.

However, as long as he rested for a day and then risked giving himself an electric shock treatment, he could complete the analysis within three days while in a triple-overclocked state; it wouldn't be difficult.

He believed that after the analysis was complete, he would be able to find a way to break this curse.

But besides eradicating the curse, if there was a way to rapidly increase his Mental Energy within two days.

He could significantly extend the time he could use his Special Ability in the future, without relying too much on electric shock treatment.

Not to mention the unbearable pain, this method of almost squeezing his Soul's potential might leave behind hidden dangers if used too often.

Zhong Quandao stroked his beard and said:

"Before the Spirit Ascension Realm, there is only one way for a Martial Artist to achieve a rapid increase in Mental Strength."

"Awaken the Heart-Phase Dao Seed in advance."

"Heart-Phase Dao Seed? Isn't that something that requires at least the Tiangang Realm Ninth Stage to awaken?" Principal Li asked in confusion.

The Heart-Phase Dao Seed is the key to stepping into the Spirit Ascension Realm.

Many people spend their whole lives unable to make a Breakthrough to the Spirit Ascension Realm simply because they can never awaken the Heart-Phase Dao Seed.

"Normally, a Martial Artist needs their True Qi to be sufficiently condensed to build a bridge connecting to their Spirit Platform, and then condense the Heart-Phase Dao Seed through their own insights, planting it within the Spirit Platform."

"But there is one place that allows people to bypass the bridge-building step, face their own Spirit Platform directly, and greatly increase the probability of condensing the Heart-Phase Dao Seed."

Hearing this, Principal Li, who knew something about Project Starfall, had already guessed the place Zhong Quandao was referring to.

"Senior, are you talking about the Spirit Gathering Secret Realm?"

"That is correct."

"But isn't that Spirit Gathering Secret Realm only supposed to open at the end of the first phase of Project Starfall?"

"Right now is precisely the final stage of the previous Project Starfall."

"Are you saying... let Chen Moxuan compete directly with the members of the previous Project Starfall?"

Project Starfall is a program conceived to Cultivate the future strongest Martial Artists.

If the philosophy of the New Martial Arts Sect is to rapidly produce a large number of core members of the Human Race.

Then this Project Starfall, led by the Traditional Martial Arts Sect, aims to Cultivate the undisputed top combat power of the Human Race.

Although this program pours in massive resources, it is also extremely cruel, divided into three stages, with each stage eliminating nearly ninety percent of the participants.

And the Spirit Gathering Secret Realm is the final screening ground for the first stage.

The 1000 Geniuses selected from all over for this period of Project Starfall will gather here to compete for the top 100 spots.

This ranking not only concerns the qualifications to enter the next stage but also determines the initial ranking for resource allocation in the next stage.

Besides this, the most coveted reward in the Spirit Gathering Secret Realm is undoubtedly the Spirit Gathering Pool.

As long as one is immersed in the pool water, not only can one instantly enter a state of Epiphany, but one can also directly gain the opportunity to gestate the Heart-Phase Dao Seed in the Spirit Platform.

Even if one doesn't succeed, Mental Strength can still be improved to a certain extent, which is also very beneficial for making a Breakthrough to the Spirit Ascension Realm in the future.

Once successful, making a Breakthrough to the Spirit Ascension Realm is as easy as walking on level ground.

But only the top 100 are qualified to soak in the Spirit Gathering Pool.

And the higher the ranking, the longer one can stay in the Spirit Gathering Pool.

Therefore, throughout the entire Spirit Gathering Secret Realm, the struggle is constant from beginning to end.

Chen Moxuan has just been selected for Project Starfall; generally, the soonest he would go to the Spirit Gathering Secret Realm would be after a year.

Currently, those inside the Spirit Gathering Secret Realm are all elite Geniuses from various places who are one period ahead of Chen Moxuan and have been nurtured by Project Starfall for nearly a year.

Zhong Quandao nodded slightly and said: "The previous Spirit Gathering Secret Realm opened the day before yesterday. Although there is no precedent for entering early, as long as one is a member of Project Starfall, one has the qualification to enter the Secret Realm once."

"Senior Zhong, isn't this really asking too much..." Principal Li said with a bitter expression.

In his eyes, Chen Moxuan's current strength is definitely in the first tier of Geniuses for this batch.

To let Chen Moxuan compete with those Geniuses who have been Cultivating for a year longer than him and were also selected for Project Starfall, this is truly too difficult.

Among these people, many have already stepped into the Tiangang Realm, and they are definitely not those shoddy Tiangang Realm practitioners who only have the Realm but no real strength.

Chen Moxuan's Cultivation speed is already worthy of being called a Prodigy, but he still needs to be given some time to grow.

Zhong Quandao sighed, also feeling quite helpless.

He naturally knows how terrifying the potential of someone who can create a method that triggers such heaven and earth anomalies is.

It's just that the rules of Project Starfall are not something he can change.

Even if he contacted the Dean immediately, by the time the series of procedures were completed, I'm afraid two days would have already passed.

Moreover, Zhong Quandao believes that someone who can create a method that triggers heaven and earth anomalies must be a peerless Prodigy with exceptional talent in the path of martial arts and extraordinary combat power.

"The current situation is critical; there is no room for following procedures step-by-step."

Speaking of this, a flash of determination crossed Zhong Quandao's eyes, and he proposed:

"I suggest that you head to the Spirit Gathering Secret Realm immediately, young friend. I believe that with your abilities, you will certainly be able to compete for those top 100 spots."

"Only by Awakening the Heart-Phase Dao Seed can there be a chance of survival."

Chen Moxuan looked at Zhong Quandao and asked the question he was most concerned about:

"How does one go to that Spirit Gathering Secret Realm? How soon can one come out at the fastest?"

"You only need to use that taichu golden mirror in your hand and perform the secret technique, and I can open a Secret Realm entrance at any location," Zhong Quandao explained,

"There are still five days until the Secret Realm closes, but if you're talking about the fastest..."

"As long as you rank in the top ten, you can leave directly after soaking in the Spirit Gathering Pool."

"It's just that very few people come out early. After all, once you come out, your score in the Secret Realm will be fixed, and there will be no possibility of any changes.

If someone surpasses your score before the Secret Realm closes, their ranking will also be above yours."

"How does one obtain points to improve one's ranking?" Chen Moxuan asked further.

"Every period there will be some changes; you will know once you are inside the Secret Realm, but basically it all revolves around two points..."

Zhong Quandao's expression became stern, and he said in a deep voice,

"Killing the exotic beasts in the Secret Realm and... stealing from others."

Hearing these answers, Chen Moxuan bowed his head and pondered slightly.

The only thing bothering him now is the time issue.

Currently, there are nearly three days left before he is forcibly pulled back.

Using these three days to focus on Cultivation is enough for him to take his strength a step further.

If he wastes too much time after entering the Secret Realm, it would be counterproductive.

However, since going to the Secret Realm doesn't require extra time and he can come out early,

there is nothing to worry about.

The improvement of Mental Energy is definitely a long-term high return for him.

After making his decision, Chen Moxuan said in an orderly manner:

"I will prepare a little, and then I will trouble you, Senior, to open the Secret Realm for me."

Although he is already at the Qi Refining Realm Ninth Stage, he has just broken through.

Now that he has the means to use True Qi, he urgently needs to master a few Xuan-grade Martial Arts to use as self-defense skills.

Since creating his own Breathing Method, Chen Moxuan's control over True Qi has reached a Transcendent level.

With such profound attainments, learning most Xuan-grade Martial Arts won't take him much time.

A few minutes is enough.