Cultivation (1)

Hao Meng's departure deeply impacted Li Mu. As the first friend he could truly call a brother after his transmigration, Senior Hao had greatly inspired Li Mu in both character and dedication to cultivation, acting like an elder brother.

"I need to work harder too, I can't fall too far behind Brother Hao. For the Sect Selection in two years, we must enter together. And Qing Zhu, Xiao Yu, Xiao Meng, we all have to go together."

The Cangyun Empire's Sect Selection was held every five years, a grand event for the cultivation sects within the empire to widely recruit talented disciples. The Sect Selection was divided into two stages.

The first was the preliminary selection, with selection points set up in all 108 large cities of the empire. Anyone who graduated from an officially registered basic academy in the empire within the past five years and reached the Core Formation Realm could register for the selection. Officials dispatched by the empire would assign a comprehensive score to contestants based on strength, speed, and combat ability. The top ten would advance to the final selection held in the Imperial Capital.

These over a thousand contestants who passed the preliminary selection would gather in the capital of the Cangyun Empire, Cangyun City, for a more brutal elimination selection. The content and methods of the selection changed each session, primarily decided by the top ten cultivation sects of the Cangyun Empire.

The twenty individuals who ultimately emerged victorious from the elimination selection would earn the qualification to be chosen by the top ten sects. Of course, in previous years, there were instances where contestants who were particularly outstanding in certain aspects were noticed by other smaller sects during the elimination selection and were directly recruited. However, overall, only a few dozen individuals were ultimately chosen by sects in each Sect Selection. Compared to the scale of over a million people in the entire empire who registered for the Sect Selection, it was truly one in ten thousand.

The Cangyun Empire was located in the eastern part of the continent, extremely vast. However, there were no more than fifty places that could truly be called cultivation sects. Although many ancient aristocratic families could rival sects in terms of cultivation methods, martial skills, and even strength, the mainstream of this Immortal Realm was still those sects.

Having made up his mind, Li Mu embarked on a grueling academy cultivation journey. In the Immortal Realm, countless people began cultivating from a young age, but very few actually reached the Core Formation Realm. This was because the path of cultivation was extremely tedious and boring. Once one chose to cultivate, the colorful world would no longer concern them, leaving only the desire to pursue higher realms in their hearts. Few could persevere through this loneliness and hardship for decades or centuries.

But all things in the world were in balance. Every cultivator who achieved success gained transcendent status. Those in the Nascent Soul Realm could become famous in a region, and those in the Immeasurable Realm could even decide the life and death of mortal nations, let alone those in the Tribulation Crossing Realm or even the ethereal Ascension Realm.

This world was ultimately ruled by the law of the jungle. What ordinary people found unbearable in cultivation, once achieved, brought supreme glory, immense power, and the prosperity of their families. Thus, for thousands of years, even knowing this path was incredibly difficult and success was less than one in ten thousand, every family would unhesitatingly send their children onto this single-plank bridge.

"This Sect Selection feels a bit like the college entrance examination from my previous life. Those top ten sects are like Tsinghua and Peking University, the prestigious schools. Thinking about it, I dropped out of high school without even taking the exam. This time, I have another chance."

At this moment, Li Mu was in the woods behind the dormitory, continuously practicing his sword. Half a year had passed since Hao Meng's departure. The three forms of the Li Family Sword Style had been cultivated by him to near perfection. At his current realm, he truly couldn't find any room for improvement.

"Now that the martial skill training has reached its peak, my three sword forms can be freely evolved into various moves, achieving infinite transformations without deviating from the source. But unfortunately, despite multiple attempts to practice the fourth form, Sword Intent Horizontal and Vertical, all have ended in failure. It seems my realm is still insufficient. Even with the boost from my comprehension talent, the lack of Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi in my body prevents me from executing this fourth form."

Li Mu finished another set of sword moves, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He was very anxious about the bottleneck he was currently facing.

"It's almost time for afternoon classes. I'll go ask Teacher Mu after class."

After thinking for a long time and still finding no way to break through, Li Mu stopped dwelling on it, muttered to himself, and then headed to class.

Qinglan Academy, as a basic academy before cultivation, focused its courses primarily on fundamental theories, practical combat skills, and common knowledge about cultivation.

For many disciples from aristocratic families, these were dispensable courses. They valued experienced instructors' guidance, access to various pills, and the study of secondary professions more. However, for many commoner disciples, these basic courses were very important and practical.

After activating his comprehension talent, Li Mu's learning ability was astonishing. In half a year, he had thoroughly grasped all the courses that ordinary students would take two to three years to learn. Simultaneously, he chose Alchemy as his secondary profession and achieved good results.

As the old instructor announced the end of class, Li Mu quickly walked out of the classroom and arrived at a three-story white building, which was Mu Bai's office.

"You're saying you've encountered a bottleneck?"

Mu Bai looked at the young man before him. He could also sense that Li Mu's Yuan Qi was full, having reached the peak of the Half-step Core Formation Realm. He only needed to break through the final layer to reach a completely new realm.

"That's right, Teacher Mu. I actually felt I reached the peak of the Half-step Core Formation Realm a month ago. The speed at which I absorb Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi is also getting slower and slower, but despite repeatedly examining my dantian, there's still no sign of Core Formation."

Li Mu explained his situation and doubts without reservation. Mu Bai, being a former expert at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm who had traveled the world, was knowledgeable and might have a solution.

"The advancement of major realms is divided into two types. One is to use martial skills as a guide, driving the circulation of Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within the body to ultimately achieve Core Formation. Hao Meng was like this, breaking through with the Dragon Tiger Fighting Saint Fist, combined with the power of pills, directly reshaping the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within his body to achieve the breakthrough. The second type is to cultivate cultivation methods. Cultivation methods, unlike martial skills, mostly lack direct destructive power. However, good cultivation methods can enhance the control over Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi. For example, the family cultivation method you are practicing, the Innate Art, is a very excellent basic cultivation method. Breakthroughs in the realm of cultivation methods can also drive the changes in Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within the body, thereby achieving Core Formation."

Mu Bai, as expected of a former super expert, summarized the two most common paths to breaking through to the Core Formation Realm in just a few simple sentences.

"Then, Teacher Mu, which aspect do you think I should focus on now?"

After hearing Mu Bai's analysis, Li Mu nodded thoughtfully and immediately asked further.

"This sword style created by your father greatly emphasizes practical combat and can perfectly unleash a swordsman's strength. This is also due to his profound realm and his unparalleled control over Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi among his peers. What granted him this was your Li family's ancestral Innate Art, which laid a solid foundation for him in the early stages of cultivation. It can be said that if the Innate Art were not only suitable for cultivation before the Nascent Soul Realm, it would never have been merely a Yellow Tier Mid-grade Cultivation Method."

Mu Bai looked at the worried Li Mu and offered his opinion. The Li family's Innate Art was widely renowned, but its techniques were known only to the Li family members. As a Yellow Tier Mid-grade cultivation method, breaking through with it was undoubtedly the most suitable.

"I understand, Teacher Mu. Previously, I did indeed spend a lot of energy on honing my sword skills. From now on, I will focus more on cultivating the Innate Art and see if I can break through the bottleneck."

Li Mu readily accepted Mu Bai's suggestion. He had indeed been influenced by Hao Meng's breakthrough with the Dragon Tiger Fighting Saint Fist and had paid more attention to refining martial skills, neglecting the tedious cultivation of the Innate Art. Now, it seemed this might have been taking a detour.

"Only members of the Li family truly understand the cultivation of the Innate Art. I suggest you go find your father or your brother. They might be able to help you."

Mu Bai saw that Li Mu quickly understood the reasoning and was very pleased. As a teacher, who wouldn't want their students to excel?

"I understand. I'll head back to the family right away. Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Mu. This student will take his leave."

After bidding farewell to Mu Bai, Li Mu rushed back to the Li family without delay. His desire to break through made the young man unwilling to delay, needing to find a way to break this bottleneck as soon as possible.