Chapter 177: Chapter 157: The Direction of Cultivation
When cultivating Spiritual Power, a Martial Artist sees in straight lines; to them, the world is composed of countless straight lines. An archer sees in points, and to them, the world is composed of countless points. But what a Cultivator of Spiritual Power sees—is countless distortions.
These distortions are auras. In the eyes of a Spiritual Power Cultivator, the entire world is warped by their effects.
An aura manifests on the surface of a person’s body, making looking at someone feel like viewing them through a frame. Everyone’s aura is unique. More interestingly, you can use your Spiritual Power to slash through an aura and watch it repair itself. A normal person’s aura is roughly the size of their body, but the auras of powerful individuals can cover an entire building. The auras of objects, meanwhile, connect into a single whole, making them appear magnified.
If one’s cultivation realm is a water jar, then Spiritual Power is the water within it. The larger the jar, the more water it can hold.
Therefore, with Ling Xiao’s current mental realm at the Mid-Golden Core Stage, it was no exaggeration to describe his Spiritual Power as vast as an ocean.
Moreover, Ling Xiao had realized something. The pressure that Demon Sword Master had released when he’d last met the King was actually a similar application of power. It wasn’t true Spiritual Power, not by a long shot. It was just the aura of a master, capable of intimidating those weaker than him. Back then, Ling Xiao’s Spiritual Power had been strong, but his physical body was far too weak. Facing the Demon Sword Master’s aura had made every step a struggle. If he were to face that same pressure now, he certainly wouldn’t be in such a sorry state.
Masters at the Sword Sect-level and above were different. They had already gained an initial glimpse into the cultivation of Spiritual Power.
He remembered the Sword Sect master who had stolen the Crown Prince’s Tier Five Magical Beast. When he and Ye Wen Ni had seen him, his Spiritual Power had already been formidable.
So much so that those who faced him couldn’t even muster the will to attack. If it weren’t for their duty to protect the Crown Prince, they would have likely retreated in terror.
However, it seemed that Sword Sect master... only knew how to use his Spiritual Power for intimidation.
But Ling Xiao knew how to actually *cultivate* his Spiritual Power.
In the Cultivation Realm, Cultivators focused on three main things. First was the physical body. This was the most fundamental aspect. As the vessel for the soul, if one’s body wasn’t strong enough, it didn’t even need an enemy attack to be destroyed. It could be torn apart by one’s own Spiritual Power during cultivation, leading to a grisly death by explosion.
That was why Ling Xiao hadn’t dared to cultivate his Spiritual Power when his body was weak. Its strength had been completely insufficient to withstand the immense energy that would erupt from it.
Second was cultivating True Essence. During the Foundation Establishment Stage, one cultivated Spiritual Power. Upon reaching the Golden Core Stage, this Spiritual Power underwent a qualitative change, transforming into True Essence and coalescing into a Golden Core, marking entry into a new realm of power. The amount of one’s True Essence directly determined a Cultivator’s strength.
Third was Cultivating the Mental Realm. Only by improving one’s mental state could one guard against demonic corruption and prevent qi deviation after becoming powerful. In other words, the higher the mental realm, the more stable the Divine Soul, and the stronger one’s Spiritual Power became.
The Spiritual Power cultivation method Ling Xiao knew was divided into five levels: Condensing Will into Steel, Forging Will into Needles, Thought-Breaking Steel Needle, Breaking Space, and Creation Domain.
With his mental realm at the Mid-Golden Core Stage, Ling Xiao could now cultivate "Condensing Will into Steel."
"Condensing Will into Steel" involved materializing one’s Spiritual Power, concentrating it to form a shield-like barrier. It offered effective protection when facing masters with equally immense Spiritual Power.
"Forging Will into Needles" was an ability that could only be cultivated from the Late Golden Core Stage to the Nascent Soul Stage. It involved compressing and concentrating Spiritual Power into sharp, invisible needles that could be stabbed directly into an opponent’s brain, killing them silently.
"Thought-Breaking Steel Needle" could only be achieved during the Soul Emergence and Divinity Transformation Stages. At this point, one’s Spiritual Power reached a state of supreme mastery. With a mere thought, one could shatter an opponent’s weapon in their hand, reaching a state where the intangible could destroy the tangible.
"Breaking Space" was only achievable at the Body Integration and Tribulation Crossing Stages. By then, one’s physical body would be nearly indestructible. Relying on sheer physical might, one could briefly tear space itself to deliver a world-shaking blow capable of annihilating an opponent’s Primordial Spirit.
"Creation Domain" was a legendary feat only a Cultivator at the Mahayana Stage could accomplish. With a wave of their hand, they could create a world entirely their own. Within that world... the domain’s owner was a god.
Clearly, the cultivation of Spiritual Power was an indispensable part of a Cultivator’s journey.
Ling Xiao closed his eyes and focused, his heart devoid of joy or sorrow. The immense Spiritual Power in his mind began to condense. As his hands continuously formed various seals, the Spiritual Power in his mind grew ever more abundant, ever denser. A solemn expression settled on his handsome face. The greatest fear when cultivating Spiritual Power was being disturbed. If he were interrupted now, he would suffer a backlash, sustain severe injuries, and even risk qi deviation.
Finally, a sphere of Spiritual Power formed, tightly enveloping Ling Xiao’s Divine Sense and creating a solid barrier.
Now, even if he faced a Sword Sect-level master, they could no longer harm him with spiritual pressure.
A smile touched Ling Xiao’s lips as he stood up. He was on a cliff, a full hundred meters high, with the ocean waves gently washing against the rocks below. A long, steep, though not exceptionally high, line of cliffs stretched out along the coast. Wild grass grew thick along the shore, which bordered the Mesopotamia Grassland. The area was deserted; almost no one ever came here for a stroll.
Ling Xiao focused his mind and calmed his qi, the light in his eyes dimming. After three months of intensive training, his body had also reached a formidable state. Today, on a whim, he had effortlessly advanced his Spiritual Power to the realm of "Condensing Will into Steel."
’Sure enough, Cultivation is a natural process. You can’t force it.’
A flash of red light, and the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword appeared in Ling Xiao’s hand. He pointed the blood-red longsword toward the sky, and for an instant, the light of the blazing sun seemed to dim.
Ling Xiao leaped into the air, the hundred-meter cliff beneath him seeming like nothing.
He landed steadily on a massive reef some twenty-odd meters from the cliff face.
Ling Xiao’s eyes were crystal clear. A vast, ocean-like Spiritual Power began to swirl violently around him, and the Spiritual Qi in his Dantian began to boil like a cauldron.
After three months of relentless cultivation, Ling Xiao could finally unleash this strike.
Just like that strike from long ago.
Ling Xiao focused all his Spiritual Power into the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword, pointing it at the seaside cliff. His facial muscles twitched violently as he let out a thunderous roar, "Fleeting Light!"
BOOM!
An earth-shattering roar echoed. High in the sky, Clown shrieked, its wings beating furiously as it shot straight into the clouds.
The ocean for twenty-odd meters in front of him erupted, forming a massive curtain of water dozens of meters high.
Beyond that, the cliff face... collapsed with a roar. Enormous boulders crashed into the sea, kicking up monstrous waves. Dust and spray shot toward the heavens!
Ling Xiao let out a long roar!
Such might, such killing intent. It was unparalleled.
The dust gradually settled and the waves grew calm again. The only witnesses to this event, aside from the heavens and the earth, were... the magnificent Snow Mountain Lightning Falcon soaring high above—Clown.
The Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword let out a clear, sonorous hum like a dragon’s cry, its blade glowing with a brilliant red light as if in excitement. Ling Xiao returned the sword to his ring, only to realize he had an awkward problem.
That single strike had utterly drained the Spiritual Power from his body and his mind, leaving only his well-trained, sturdy body. But jumping from the reef directly to the shore was now completely impossible.
’Don’t tell me... I have to swim for it?’ A wry smile touched Ling Xiao’s lips. He raised an eyebrow as he saw Clown plummeting from the sky in a freefall. It was the bird’s favorite trick. From the moment it was born, the highly intelligent Flying Magical Beast had been vastly different from its peers, more like a mischievous child who loved playing pranks.
The soldiers of the Lightning Legion, which had been named in its honor, were both fond of and fearful of Clown whenever they saw it.
"Get me across!"
Ling Xiao shouted to Clown—which had already grown to two-thirds the size of the Tier Five Snow Mountain Lightning Falcon they had encountered before—though he wasn’t entirely sure it would work.
But Clown seemed to understand. It soared higher before diving, extending its sharp talons as it swooped toward Ling Xiao. Ling Xiao grabbed hold of one.
WHOOSH!
The sound of Clown’s wings filled the air. The twenty-meter distance vanished in the blink of an eye. Clown seemed to carry him effortlessly; if Ling Xiao hadn’t let go, it felt as though the bird could have carried him much farther.
’Looks like crossing dangerous terrain will be much easier from now on,’ Ling Xiao thought. He casually took out an Elixir and tossed it to Clown. "This is for you!"
Clown let out a piercing cry, swallowed the Elixir in one gulp, and soared into the sky to find a place to digest its medicinal energy.
Ling Xiao was still unsure what kind of Magical Beast Clown would ultimately become. Based on the abilities it was already displaying, it had long surpassed the level of a Tier Four Magical Beast. He could only imagine that in the near future, its achievements would far outstrip those of its parents.
The long coastline was silent. Ling Xiao walked along it, slowly absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, feeling a sense of deep comfort. It was safe to say that only now had Ling Xiao truly established a foothold in this world.
He would once again embark on the path of Cultivation. The road might not be smooth, but Ling Xiao believed that as long as he kept moving forward, he would one day succeed.
This was only the beginning. Yes, there was still a long road ahead.
Penzes Harbor was currently a scene of clamor and excitement. This was the final docking before the New Year; after tomorrow, the port would enter a month-long rest period.
Tomorrow... was the Blast Flame Lion King festival!
