After his meridians had been tempered to completion, the circulation speed of spiritual energy within Shen Hao's body increased dramatically. The efficiency of cultivating the Spirit Devouring Art rose with the tide, reaching an unprecedented level. In the past, spiritual energy would still encounter the slightest sluggishness as it circulated through his meridians. Now, it flowed as smoothly as rivers pouring into the sea, while the Spirit Devouring Vortex's speed of consuming spiritual energy showed faint signs of improvement.
That evening, the sun dipped westward, its lingering rays spilling through the forests of Qingyun Peak and gilding all things with a layer of golden radiance. Shen Hao sat upon the Jade Bed and took a lustrous Mid-grade Spirit Stone from his Storage Pouch. He had exchanged the Low-grade Spirit Stones he earned from hunting Demon Beasts in the outer sect for it at the inner sect's Market. A Mid-grade Spirit Stone contained ten times the spiritual energy of a Low-grade Spirit Stone, and its energy was purer, with very few impurities, making it immensely beneficial to cultivation.
Shen Hao pressed the Mid-grade Spirit Stone against the Companion Jade Pendant. A cool touch came from the pendant, carrying a faint ripple of spiritual energy. Then, he slowly closed his eyes, circulated the Spirit Devouring Art, and activated the Spirit Devouring Vortex within his body.
In an instant, the Companion Jade Pendant erupted with dazzling azure light, illuminating the entire room with brilliant clarity. Fine patterns emerged across the pendant's surface, slowly writhing like living things as they emitted a powerful devouring force. Under the pendant's radiance, the lustrous Mid-grade Spirit Stone instantly dimmed. The spiritual energy within it surged madly into the pendant like a rushing river.
The spiritual energy within a Mid-grade Spirit Stone was far purer than that of a Low-grade Spirit Stone. After undergoing further purification through the Companion Jade Pendant, it became even more refined, without a trace of impurity. Then, this pure spiritual energy flowed endlessly through Shen Hao's meridians and into the Spirit Devouring Vortex in his dantian. The vortex spun at high speed, giving off a faint hum as it further compressed and condensed the incoming spiritual energy before sending it into his Sea of Qi, where it transformed into Shen Hao's own cultivation.
Shen Hao could clearly feel the level of the spiritual-energy lake within his Sea of Qi slowly rising, while the concentration of spiritual energy steadily increased. The deep-blue spiritual energy grew ever richer, faintly showing signs of shifting toward an even darker blue.
In the past, devouring a single Low-grade Spirit Stone required half an hour, and he still had to remove its impurities. Now, devouring a Mid-grade Spirit Stone took no more than the time it took to burn a stick of incense, increasing his efficiency by several times over. Moreover, the spiritual-energy gain from consuming a Mid-grade Spirit Stone far surpassed that of ten Low-grade Spirit Stones, accelerating the growth of his cultivation even further.
"The effects of a Mid-grade Spirit Stone truly are extraordinary." Shen Hao secretly rejoiced, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
He did not stop cultivating. Instead, he took out another Mid-grade Spirit Stone from his Storage Pouch, pressed it to the Companion Jade Pendant, and continued activating both the pendant and the Spirit Devouring Vortex to consume the spiritual energy within the stone.
As the Spirit Devouring Vortex continuously devoured and compressed spiritual energy, Shen Hao noticed that its rotation seemed several degrees faster than before. Its size, too, faintly showed signs of expanding. Cultivating the Spirit Devouring Art inherently involved continuously consuming spiritual energy to strengthen the Spirit Devouring Vortex. The stronger the vortex became, the faster it could devour spiritual energy and the more efficiently it could refine it, forming a virtuous cycle.
When the third Mid-grade Spirit Stone had been completely devoured, the Spirit Devouring Vortex within Shen Hao's body suddenly trembled and let out a powerful hum. Then, the vortex abruptly expanded by a full ring, its rotation speed increasing by several tenths. The devouring force it emitted was far stronger than before.
Shen Hao's heart stirred, and he hurriedly turned his awareness inward toward his dantian. At the center of the Spirit Devouring Vortex, he saw a faint Golden Pattern appear. The pattern was fine and profound, giving off a mysterious aura.
"The Spirit Devouring Art actually broke through to the second level!" Shen Hao was both shocked and overjoyed. He abruptly opened his eyes, excitement gleaming within them.
He had previously known only that the Spirit Devouring Art had nine levels, but he had not known what opportunity was needed for each breakthrough. He had never expected that merely devouring three Mid-grade Spirit Stones would allow the Spirit Devouring Art to break through to the second level.
The Spirit Devouring Vortex at the first level of the Spirit Devouring Art could only consume ordinary natural spiritual energy and the spiritual energy contained within Spirit Stones. The second-level vortex not only greatly increased its devouring speed and refining efficiency, but could also begin consuming certain types of attribute-infused spiritual energy, such as the fire, wood, and Earth Spiritual Energy within Demon Beast inner cores.
This breakthrough was undoubtedly like adding wings to a tiger for Shen Hao. The attribute spiritual energy within Demon Beast inner cores was immensely beneficial to cultivators. It could increase the diversity of one's spiritual energy and grant it greater power.
Shen Hao felt the stronger Spirit Devouring Vortex within him, and his heart filled with joy. He knew that with the breakthrough of the Spirit Devouring Art, his cultivation speed would become even faster. He had gained a few more measures of confidence for the Inner Sect Grand Competition.
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