Zhou Hai came before Ning Ri, wanting only to get a closer sense of Ning Ri's talent in techniques.
[Spirit Absorption Technique] was not difficult.
In his experience, a Third Stage Qi Refining cultivator with ordinary talent in techniques could, after practicing [Spirit Absorption Technique] for half an hour, raise the efficiency with which a single acupoint absorbed spiritual energy by roughly ten to twenty percent. Those with powerful talent in techniques could raise it by fifty percent. As for those with heaven-defying talent, anything was possible—for instance, some would complete the cultivation directly, while others could cultivate all seven apertures within half an hour...
But what was going on with Ning Ri?
With one inhale through Ning Ri's nose, that pulling sensation actually locked onto the spiritual energy on Zhou Hai's body...
Although the gap in cultivation meant Ning Ri did not succeed, it was enough to leave Zhou Hai utterly shaken—
What did this brat mean by cultivating abilities that were not even recorded in the jade slip???
Who taught you?
Startled by Zhou Hai's shout, Ning Ri hurriedly stopped inhaling through his nose. "Elder Zhou, I didn't do it on purpose."
Zhou Hai said, "Don't worry, I'm not blaming you. I just want to ask—how did you cultivate this? Spirit Absorption Technique never said you could absorb other people's spiritual power."
There was one thing Zhou Hai did not say.
[Spirit Absorption Technique] was an "original" technique he had extracted from the demonic-path technique [Great Storm Inhalation Method].
The principle behind [Great Storm Inhalation Method] was this: the refiner imposed tenfold, hundredfold, or even thousandfold pressure upon the refined person's acupoints, causing the refined person's entire body to burst with blood in an instant and their acupoints to pressurize. In this way, all spiritual power could be squeezed out, achieving the effect of "instant refinement."
Quite a few of Zhou Hai's students suffered from the symptom of "malfunctioning acupoints."
To help them, Zhou Hai chose to improve Great Storm Inhalation Method, reversing the pressure-increasing method onto his own acupoints to strengthen their suction. It was also easy to practice, far stronger than the other acupoint-training methods on the market.
And once [Spirit Absorption Technique] was cultivated to its end, it could naturally absorb spiritual power from others just like the original version.
However, absorbing ownerless spiritual energy from heaven and earth and absorbing spiritual energy owned by another person were two entirely different circulation routes.
The jade slip he had given Ning Ri did not record that.
Therefore, he had never imagined Ning Ri could absorb the spiritual power on his body.
His first thought was whether Ning Ri had practiced the original [Great Storm Inhalation Method], but on second thought, if Ning Ri had really practiced the original technique, then this circulation method was wrong too.
When he had rewritten it, he had changed even the circulation route. The one Ning Ri had just used was precisely his own "original" route.
Besides, he had just examined Ning Ri's meridians. There was not a trace of demonic cultivation...
Facing Zhou Hai's question, Ning Ri said blankly, "I'm not entirely sure either..."
"I only feel that when I circulate Spirit Absorption Technique, it automatically sucks in all the spiritual energy in front of me."
With time short, Ning Ri had not been able to properly confirm the effects of [Spirit Absorption Technique: 3]. The moment he activated it, it launched an indiscriminate attack.
That was why he was confused too.
From Elder Zhou's meaning, after he had finished practicing with the panel, his Spirit Absorption Technique had gained effects not present in the technique itself?
His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately realized that this golden finger of his definitely had some function he did not yet know about...
"Automatically?"
Upon hearing Ning Ri's words, Zhou Hai's brows lifted slightly, as though he had discovered a new continent. Then he pondered, "How about this? I'll give you another half hour. Practice with another location, and let me take another look."
Ning Ri said, "Elder Zhou, I've already finished practicing. I can use Spirit Absorption Technique with all seven apertures."
Zhou Hai: "?"
His eyes widened slightly. "Really?"
"Really!"
Elder Zhou Hai's pupils contracted—
This stone-headed brat's talent in techniques was this heaven-defying?
He immediately said, "Then switch to another acupoint and show me."
Ning Ri immediately did as told—
He immediately drew in a sharp breath:
"Hiss!"
The mouth was one of the seven apertures. At that moment, a large amount of spiritual energy was immediately sucked into Ning Ri's mouth along with his inhaling motion...
Zhou Hai once again felt that familiar pulling sensation.
However, Ning Ri had not noticed just now. This time, he noticed too...
When he circulated his cultivation method, this Spirit Absorption Technique clearly had two different circulation routes.
And this circulation route was precisely what the jade slip had not mentioned.
Joy rose in Ning Ri's heart—
It seemed his cheat truly had surprises he did not know about!
Then, under Ning Ri's deliberate control, the pulling sensation aimed at Zhou Hai vanished the moment it appeared.
When Zhou Hai saw that Ning Ri had truly cultivated [Spirit Absorption Technique] into this state, his pupils contracted again. Then his expression immediately tightened, and he fell silent for a long time.
Just when Ning Ri was about to think Zhou Hai had disconnected, he finally continued, "I..."
"I finally understand why your aptitude is so poor."
Ning Ri froze. "Why?!"
Zhou Hai said earnestly, "Perhaps the Heavenly Dao deliberately seeks balance. Your talent in techniques is too heaven-defying, so it had no choice but to limit your aptitude somewhat."
Ning Ri was stunned. But my talent in techniques is actually this poor too.
Yet he did not know what to say to Zhou Hai. After pausing, he could only force out, "...Ah, why is the Heavenly Dao so awful!"
Zhou Hai said, "Immortal cultivation is like this. Just understand it and move on."
"Alright, back to business. You have already obtained the qualifications for the disciple trial. After resting for two days, attend it at Kite Plaza. Have Little Stele take you there."
At that, Ning Ri immediately said joyfully, "Thank you, Elder Zhou."
Little Stele was Li Cheng.
After Ning Ri finished Zhou Hai's assessment, he left with Li Cheng.
Only after Ning Ri had completely gone into the distance did Zhou Hai finally stop suppressing himself. He revealed a look of utter horror and muttered:
"Where in the world did this divine being come from?"
He suppressed his cultivation to Third Stage Qi Refining, then drew in another sharp breath. "Hiss!"
[Spirit Absorption Technique] activated.
Spiritual energy from all directions flooded into his mouth...
Zhou Hai stared dumbfounded. "His acupoints are worse than mine, yet after he circulates Spirit Absorption Technique, the spiritual energy he draws into his body is actually more than what I absorb?"
"In other words, his Spirit Absorption Technique is stronger than mine!"
"He only practiced casually for half an hour, yet he made my technique stronger than mine? In other words, he optimized my technique!"
"Who exactly is the author of this technique?!"
"Ning Ri!"
Two days later, at Kite Plaza, an elder dressed in a bright gray robe was calling names.
When he heard his name, Ning Ri immediately called out, "This disciple is here!"
The gray-robed elder looked at Ning Ri, an odd glint in his eyes. Then he nodded slightly. "Mm, you are the third."
Behind the gray-robed elder was a rotating tunnel of light.
Ning Ri was the third to enter.
He knew this was the site of the disciple trial.
Ning Ri immediately nodded. "Yes! This disciple understands!"
Beside Ning Ri, there were another twelve disciples participating in this trial with him.
Among the thirteen probationary disciples taking part in the disciple trial, Ning Ri received the most attention and discussion, because the impurities in Ning Ri's acupoints and his talent in techniques were both terrifyingly strong.
On the viewing seats to one side sat twenty to thirty Inner Sect and Outer Sect disciples scattered sparsely about. There were also five gray-robed elders, including Xun Zang and Zhou Hai, who had both met Ning Ri.
At that moment, Zhou Hai asked the Trial Stele beside him, "What has he been doing these past two days?"
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