44: Breakthrough, first level of Juyuan!

Jiang Lan pondered for a moment.

“Three Yuan True Nurturing Skill, three hundred years.”

He did not choose to inject all his Lifespan at once but intended to proceed gradually.

Although the System had never had an accident when it came to improving his Realm, Jiang Lan felt it was better to be careful.

After all, when he injected the Shadow Blade Art earlier, there was a slight deviation from what he had expected.

Before Jiang Lan, lines of text flashed across the light screen.

“Sixtieth year: Although your talent is not good, you Cultivated diligently day and night, finally succeeding in Breakthrough to Qi Gathering Sixth Level in your sixtieth year.”

“One hundred twenty-seventh year: You Cultivated diligently, not daring to slack off in the slightest, and your Martial Dao Realm Breakthrough to Qi Gathering Seventh Level.”

“One hundred ninety-fifth year: Your Martial Dao Realm successfully Breakthrough to Qi Gathering Eighth Level.”

“Two hundred eightieth year: Your Martial Dao Realm successfully Breakthrough to Qi Gathering Ninth Level.”

“Three hundredth year: Your Cultivation time is still short, and you have not been able to Breakthrough again.”

...As the text on the light screen flickered, Jiang Lan’s blood and Qi rapidly increased.

The total amount of True Qi in the various acupoints throughout his body also surged rapidly.

There are a total of thirty-six acupoints in the human body.

If the acupoints are compared to swimming pools, then True Qi is the water in the swimming pools.

Previously, when Jiang Lan was only at the Qi Gathering Fifth Level, the water in the swimming pools was not even halfway full.

Now, the water was almost filling the swimming pools.

However, True Qi is gaseous, and only when it completely fills the acupoints can it be further compressed to become liquid.

Once the gaseous True Qi is completely converted into liquid, one can Breakthrough to the Spirit Gathering Realm.

And this process is usually very long.

Jiang Lan’s eyes flickered.

“Another two hundred years.”

“One hundred second year: Your Realm has reached the Peak of Qi Gathering Ninth Level.”

“Two hundredth year: True Qi in twelve acupoints in your body has liquefied; you only need the True Qi in all thirty-six acupoints to be full to Breakthrough in one fell swoop.”

Looking at the text on the light screen, Jiang Lan fell silent for a moment.

The talent of this original body... was truly hard to describe.

A normal Qi Gathering martial artist’s Lifespan would only be around three hundred years at most.

If he had to Cultivate by himself, he would probably have long since turned into dry bones in a tomb.

It was fortunate that he had the System; otherwise, no matter how hard he tried, he would never reach his current Cultivation Realm.

In the path of Martial Dao, in the end, it is still a competition of who has stronger talent.

Those with exceptional talent can achieve Skin Refinement in three years, Bone Refinement in ten years, and Qi Gathering in thirty years.

As for Jiang Lan, he had probably used over a thousand years to Cultivate to his current Realm.

This was only because he had the System; otherwise, Skin Refinement would have been his Peak.

To enter Bone Refinement would have been a fluke among flukes.

As for Qi Gathering and Gathering Yuan, he shouldn't even dream of it.

“Another two hundred years.”

Since he had already started, there was no reason to stop.

“Third year: Your True Qi in the Sea of Consciousness acupoint condenses.”

“Thirty-sixth year...”

“One hundred second year...”

“One hundred ninety-third year: Your acupoints are full, and your Martial Dao Realm Breakthrough to Spirit Gathering First Level in one fell swoop!”

“Boom!”

Following the text on the light screen, a sound like a roaring mountain and river suddenly erupted from within Jiang Lan’s body.

The huge sound caused a tangible wave of Qi, making the room a mess, cabinet doors rattling, and tables and chairs being directly overturned.

Immediately after, strange fluctuations emanated from the True Qi in those acupoints, instantly covering Jiang Lan’s entire body.

“Hmm...”

Jiang Lan subconsciously wanted to cry out, but he bit his lower lip tightly, forcibly stopping the sound.

An overwhelming pain swept through his entire body.

His muscles, bones, and Meridians were all being scoured and transformed by this strange energy.

Sweat beads oozed from Jiang Lan’s entire body.

After an unknown amount of time, the pain finally slowly lessened and eventually disappeared.

At this moment, Jiang Lan looked as if he had just been pulled out of water, drenched from head to toe, his black robe sticking to his body, and even the ends of his long black hair were dripping water.

Jiang Lan gritted his teeth and stood up.

No one had told him that Breakthrough to the Spirit Gathering Realm was so painful.

However, although it was a bit painful, the gains were completely proportional to the pain he had just endured.

Now, Jiang Lan’s physical fitness and perception abilities had both risen several levels compared to before.

He even had an illusion.

The current him and the him of a few minutes ago, at Qi Gathering Fifth Level, were no longer the same creature.

Even if thousands of Qi Gathering Fifth Level martial artists attacked him simultaneously, they would not pose the slightest threat to him.

A difference of one Realm is a difference of heaven and earth.

Looking at the messy tables and chairs on the ground, Jiang Lan seemed to remember something, and he quickly reached into his in arms and pulled out a brocade box.

The outside of the brocade box had a faint layer of water stains.

Jiang Lan didn’t pay attention and opened the brocade box.

Inside, the fleshy bug was still wiggling, seeming a bit less spirited than before.

And this time, its head was pointing northwest.

Jiang Lan let out a long breath.

It was good that the bug was fine.

He was really afraid that the previous impact would have directly shaken the bug to death.

If the Scent-Tracking Bug was gone, it would probably be difficult to find the criminal in the vast crowd.

Closing the brocade box and putting it in the drawer, Jiang Lan walked out of the room.

Taking the bathtub and filling it with well water, he then returned to the room.

Taking off his clothes and sitting in the bathtub, Jiang Lan enjoyed a nice bath.

Although the well water was cold, his body had long been immune to hot and cold.

After washing, Jiang Lan changed into casual clothes and washed his original clothes, hanging them outside to dry.

Sitting back in the room, Jiang Lan examined himself in the bronze mirror.

After Breakthrough to the Spirit Gathering Realm, a few more indescribable qualities appeared between his eyebrows.

In layman’s terms, he became more handsome.

Jiang Lan twitched the corner of his mouth.

Although he didn't care much about his external appearance, being good-looking was always better.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, and the light screen appeared before him again... “Name: Jiang Lan”

“Cultivation: Spirit Gathering First Level”

“Cultivation Technique: Three Yuan True Nurturing Skill”

“Martial Skills: Blazing Sun Demon Suppression Blade (Minor Accomplishment), Flood Dragon Swim (Beginner), Hidden God Art (Minor Accomplishment), Shadow Blade Art (Return to Simplicity).”

“Remaining Lifespan: six hundred forty-three years”

“Can improve strength by injecting Lifespan into Cultivation Techniques and skills.”

“Can increase Lifespan by suppressing or slaying demons.”

...Jiang Lan raised an eyebrow slightly.

He discovered something.

Normally, after Breakthrough a Realm, one’s own Lifespan would increase to a certain extent.

For example, a normal Qi Gathering martial artist could have a Lifespan of nearly three hundred years.

Upon reaching the Spirit Gathering Realm, a Lifespan of five hundred years was not uncommon.

However, his Realm improvement did not increase his Lifespan.

After thinking for a while, Jiang Lan couldn’t figure out why and could only shake his head and give up.

One cannot be too greedy.

That Realm was not Cultivated by him, so it was normal that it didn’t add to his Lifespan.

Anyway, as long as he killed a few demons, he could live for hundreds or thousands of years longer, so the small amount of Lifespan brought by Realm improvement was irrelevant.

Just then, a knock came from outside Jiang Lan’s door.

“Boss, are you home?”