91: The secret to condensing essence, exploiting loopholes!
The terrifying scene of Li Qing killing Duan Lang with a single punch from a distance spread through every street and alley of the entire city in just one day, as if it had grown wings.
Rumors of various versions arose.
Some said that Li Qing was actually an old monster who roamed the mortal world in disguise, having regained his youth.
Some said he had obtained the Legacy of an ancient deity or demon and cultivated a forbidden Demonic Technique.
Others even said he had come from a great city to gild his reputation.
Regardless of the version, they all portrayed Li Qing as something divine and mysterious, full of mystique.
The name 'Li Qing' had spread far and wide!
A resounding nickname also began circulating in Jinling City!
Burst Fist Li Qing!
However, Li Qing himself, the center of all this talk, was completely unaware and utterly indifferent.
The day after the competition ended, he once again arrived at the City Lord's manor.
This time, he was not invited; he came of his own accord.
He was here to make the final preparations for his assault on the Condensing Essence Realm.
Inside the study of the City Lord's manor.
City Lord Zhuang Bai warmly received Li Qing, personally brewing a pot of top-grade spiritual tea for him.
"Young friend Li Qing, yesterday's battle truly opened this old man's eyes!"
Zhuang Bai exclaimed with emotion, his eyes still filled with profound joy.
He, Zhuang Bai!
His Jinling City was finally about to break free from the ranks of the stragglers!
"Just a stroke of luck," Li Qing replied calmly.
Hearing this, the corner of Zhuang Bai's mouth twitched.
Calling it luck to pulverize someone at the Peak of the Condensing Essence Realm with one punch?
If he went all out, wouldn't even a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator like himself have to think twice?
Li Qing: Huh? How did you know I wouldn't need a second punch to deal with you either!
Zhuang Bai increasingly felt that his decision to befriend Li Qing was the wisest choice he had ever made in his life.
"No need for such modesty, young friend," Zhuang Bai said with a laugh.
"Have you come today for the matter of assaulting the Condensing Essence Realm?"
"Exactly," Li Qing replied without beating around the bush.
"I ask for the City Lord's guidance. What are the key points in breaking through from the Peak of the Body Refining Realm to the Condensing Essence Realm?"
Although his strength far surpassed his peers, his understanding of Realms was ultimately somewhat lacking.
After all, Xiao Chen himself was only at the Body Refining Realm.
He had only heard some knowledge from his own father.
The experience of Zhuang Bai, a Spirit Transformation Realm expert, would still hold significant reference value for Li Qing's Breakthrough.
Hearing Li Qing's question, Zhuang Bai's expression also turned serious.
"Good! That you can calm your mind at this time to inquire about Realm matters, rather than solely immersing yourself in power, is sufficient proof of your extraordinary Heart-Nature."
He pondered for a moment, organizing his words, and spoke slowly.
"The Body Refining Realm Cultivates the Physical Body's blood and qi. The Condensing Essence Realm Cultivates 'essence.' This 'essence' is the condensation of a Martial Artist's essence, energy, and spirit; it is the sublimation of Internal Energy."
"The most crucial step from Body Refining to Condensing Essence is 'transforming blood and qi into essence.'"
"This step requires continuously compressing, purifying, and condensing the surging blood and qi within the body, like a raging river, through a Cultivation Technique, ultimately forming the first wisp of 'internal essence' within the Dantian."
"Once internal essence is generated, one officially steps into the Condensing Essence Realm."
Zhuang Bai looked at Li Qing and continued.
"This step is extremely perilous for the vast majority of Martial Artists."
"Because the power of blood and qi is incredibly violent. A slight misstep, a failure in compression, and the blood and qi backlash. At best, it results in severed Meridians, becoming a cripple; at worst, the body explodes and one dies."
"Therefore, assaulting the Condensing Essence Realm typically requires the assistance of three things."
"First, a profound Cultivation Technique that can gently guide the circulation of blood and qi."
"Second, a large quantity of qi nurturing pills to replenish blood and qi and sustain the consumption during the assault process."
"Third, an auxiliary Medicinal Pill: a second-rank pill called the 'condensing yuan pill.'"
"This pill has a gentle medicinal power and can have the miraculous effect of stabilizing blood and qi and aiding the condensation of internal essence, increasing the Breakthrough success rate by over fifty percent!"
After speaking, Zhuang Bai looked at Li Qing with a burning gaze.
"Young friend, the 'Giant Spirit Body Tempering Art' you Cultivate is itself a Yellow Rank Peak technique. As for qi nurturing pills, I have plenty here."
"The only thing lacking is this condensing yuan pill."
He paused, a trace of pain flickering across his face, but it quickly turned into resolve.
"The condensing yuan pill is a second-rank Medicinal Pill. No one in all of Jinling City can refine it; each one is priceless."
"My manor only has three in stock, obtained during my travels in the past. I originally intended to save them for my useless son..."
As he spoke, he took out an exquisite jade vial from his bosom and handed it to Li Qing.
"These three condensing yuan pills, today, I bestow upon you, young friend, to lend you a helping hand!"
In reality, many Prodigies didn't use condensing yuan pills; their Breakthroughs were as easy as drinking water.
Li Qing took the jade vial, feeling the warm energy emanating from it. He couldn't help but view Zhuang Bai in a higher light.
This City Lord had indeed invested heavily.
"Thank you, City Lord," Li Qing expressed his gratitude solemnly.
"Haha, between you and me, no need for formalities!" Zhuang Bai laughed heartily.
"You are the hope of my Jinling City. The stronger your power, the greater the glory of my Jinling City!"
He then added.
"Follow me."
Having said this, Zhuang Bai took the lead.
Li Qing followed behind him, his Clone not far underground... Li Qing followed behind Zhuang Bai into a deep, dark underground passage.
On the walls on either side of the passage, glowing stones were embedded every few steps, illuminating the entire corridor as bright as day.
The air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and an indescribable sense of pressure.
Li Qing could sense that within this passage, at least four auras no weaker than the Peak of the Meridian Opening Realm lurked in the shadows, like coiled vipers ready to deliver a fatal strike to any intruder.
It seemed this was one of the most core Forbidden Grounds of the City Lord's manor.
Zhuang Bai led the way ahead, his steps steady, not speaking.
After traversing the long passage, a heavy stone door appeared before them.
The stone door was carved with intricate patterns, faintly swirling with energy. Clearly, it was a powerful Formation.
Zhuang Bai took out a palm-sized token from his bosom and placed it into a groove in the center of the stone door.
"Hum!"
The patterns on the stone door suddenly lit up, emitting a low rumble before slowly opening to both sides.
A wave of Spiritual Qi, at least ten times denser than the outside world, rushed towards them.
Li Qing felt all the pores on his body instantly relax, greedily absorbing this pure heaven and earth energy.
Such dense Spiritual Qi!
He was slightly startled in his heart.
This place was practically a tailor-made paradise for Cultivation.
"This is the Cultivation chamber of the City Lord's manor, built upon a node of a miniature Spiritual Vein."
Zhuang Bai's voice carried a hint of pride.
"Jinling City's current scale owes much to this miniature Spiritual Vein."
He stepped aside and made an inviting gesture to Li Qing.
"For the next month, this place is yours. No one will disturb you except for me."