Is there a problem with the cultivation method, or is there a problem with me?

After sensing the spiritual energy, Li Xiuchang immediately absorbed it into his dantian, where it mingled with the Innate Qi already present.

He then followed the cultivation method of the "Fire Starting Skill," circulating both the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and his Innate Qi.

A moment later, Li Xiuchang felt two streams of energy within his body. One was scorching hot, and the other was vibrant with life. The former was the fire attribute, and the latter was the wood attribute.

The two streams of fire and wood energy collided, much like dry tinder meeting a raging inferno.

Li Xiuchang sat quietly, waiting. Unfortunately, he couldn't yet achieve internal visualization and could only rely on his physical sensations to judge the situation within his body.

As he waited, Li Xiuchang gradually sensed that something was wrong.

According to the cultivation method, the fire and wood energy streams were supposed to converge, with the fire attribute spiritual energy eventually annexing the wood attribute spiritual energy. It would use the wood attribute spiritual energy as fuel to strengthen the fire attribute spiritual energy, thus producing pure fire attribute mana.

However, the two streams of spiritual energy had been colliding for half a day, and the fire attribute spiritual energy didn't seem to be gaining any advantage.

They were evenly matched, locked in a stalemate, with the potential to destroy each other.

Li Xiuchang began to panic. Cultivation problems were no joke; he didn't want to cripple himself on his first day of training!

Panic was inevitable, but he knew he absolutely couldn't act rashly.

Li Xiuchang maintained his composure and persisted, following the steps outlined in the "Fire Starting Skill."

Time trickled by, and the two warring energy streams within Li Xiuchang's body finally seemed to make peace, merging into one.

But strangely, Li Xiuchang could no longer feel the scorching heat of the fire attribute or the vitality of the wood attribute.

In short, the two streams eventually merged into a single stream of mana.

This mana resided within Li Xiuchang's dantian. Li Xiuchang couldn't yet make the mana circulate on its own to form a complete cycle. Therefore, when he wasn't cultivating, the mana remained in his dantian.

With this first stream of mana successfully cultivated, Li Xiuchang no longer had to worry about his Innate Qi dissipating.

It also marked his entry into the threshold of cultivation, making him a Qi Condensation Cultivator.

Li Xiuchang was overjoyed. He extended a finger and condensed mana at its tip.

The next moment, a puff of black smoke emerged from his fingertip.

Li Xiuchang's face was a mask of confusion.

Shouldn't fire attribute mana be crimson red?

Why was it black?

Where had he gone wrong in his cultivation?

He carefully recalled every step of his cultivation process, certain he had made no mistakes.

Even if he had messed up, he could understand cultivating wood attribute mana.

But wood attribute mana shouldn't be black either!

Anyone who didn't know better would think he was practicing Demonic Arts!

Fortunately, although Li Xiuchang couldn't feel the fiery heat of the fire attribute or the vibrant life of the wood attribute from this black mana, he also didn't feel the strange malevolence of Demonic Arts.

"Perhaps it's just the color that's off. Maybe it's still fire attribute mana. Yeah, black fire."

Li Xiuchang refused to give up. Following the instructions in the "Fire Starting Skill," he channeled the mana to condense a flame.

"It worked!"

Li Xiuchang's face lit up with excitement. A small flame indeed rose from the black mana at his fingertip!

It was definitely fire attribute mana; the "Fire Starting Skill" had not deceived him.

But before he could celebrate for more than a few seconds, along with the flame came billowing smoke.

The confined space of the cultivation room was instantly filled with thick smoke.

The smoke stung his nose and eyes, making it difficult for Li Xiuchang to breathe, his eyes watering profusely.

He quickly retracted the mana from his fingertip and rushed out of the cultivation room. He didn't forget to close the door behind him, preventing the smoke from escaping.

"My fire attribute mana is a bit… off."

The flame just now didn't seem to be a direct transformation of his mana but rather something ignited using his mana as fuel.

Furthermore, the billowing smoke reminded Li Xiuchang of the coal stove his family used when he was a child.

"Fire Starting Skill: wood gives birth to fire, making the flames stronger. What happens if you burn wood with fire?"

Li Xiuchang already had an answer in his mind.

Charcoal!

Could it be that his mana was of the "Charcoal Attribute"?

That's why his mana could act as fuel to start a fire, and that's why it produced so much smoke?

Li Xiuchang analyzed the situation logically and felt his guess was likely very close to the truth.

So, the question was, why had he cultivated such strange mana?

Was it a problem with the cultivation method, or was it a problem with him?

Li Xiuchang had no idea what had happened to him and felt he should find a reliable senior to consult.

After all, this dark mana couldn't be hidden anyway. It was better to figure out what was going on sooner rather than later to put his mind at ease.

Among the people he knew, only Senior Brother Song Yu and Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi fit the "reliable senior" persona.

"Senior Brother Song Yu once said that if I encountered any problems, I could seek his help. If I couldn't decide which of the Hundred Cultivation Arts to choose, I could also consult him.

"Now that I've cultivated mana and am about to choose a path from the Hundred Cultivation Arts, I'll go visit Senior Brother Song Yu and hear his advice."

Seeking help from Senior Brother Song Yu would not only allow him to ask about his "Charcoal Attribute" mana but also to get his advice on choosing from the Hundred Cultivation Arts. It was killing two birds with one stone.

After cultivating mana, Li Xiuchang examined the length stat in his vision and found no change.

This indicated that cultivation was different from martial arts. Martial arts were considered "martial skills," while cultivation itself was not a specific skill.

It seemed that to increase his length stat, he would still have to rely on the Hundred Cultivation Arts.

This made Li Xiuchang even more focused on choosing his path from the Hundred Cultivation Arts. Getting advice from the reliable Senior Brother Song Yu was very necessary.

Li Xiuchang didn't delay any further and set off immediately.

Although he was now a Qi Condensation Cultivator, Li Xiuchang's mana was weak, and he hadn't mastered flight. He could only travel on foot.

Walking from the Eastern Geng District to the Inner Sect was much farther than going to the Reception Area. Li Xiuchang estimated that by the time he arrived, his feet would be blistered.

He was unwilling to spend Spirit Stones on a taxi Flying Boat, so after some thought, he headed towards the Outer Sect Reception Area.

After cultivating mana, Li Xiuchang hadn't felt much of a change initially. It was only when he started traveling that he realized he could move with incredible speed, his steps were much faster, and his stamina had improved significantly.

It only took him a little over an hour to reach the entrance of the Reception Area, and he wasn't even tired.

Li Xiuchang lingered at the entrance of the Reception Area for about fifteen minutes before finally spotting his target – Senior Brother Wang Long.

As a disciple at the Reception Area, Wang Long often appeared there.

Li Xiuchang immediately went up to him, pretending it was a chance encounter.

"Junior Brother Li, what a coincidence, running into you again," Wang Long greeted him with a smile.

"Senior Brother Wang," Li Xiuchang replied, feigning surprise.

"Junior Brother, are you here at the Reception Area again? Have you cultivated mana and are you ready to choose from the Hundred Cultivation Arts?"

Li Xiuchang nodded and then shook his head, looking a bit troubled. "I can't quite make up my mind right now. I was planning to go ask Senior Brother Song Yu for some advice."

"Senior Brother Song Yu? It's quite a distance from here to the Inner Sect. How about I give you a ride?"

"Oh, but that's too much trouble!"

"Don't mention it, it's just a small favor."

And so, Li Xiuchang hitched a ride with Wang Long.