Qi Condensation First Layer

After the morning class ended, Zhou Ling walked up to the lectern, bowed to Liu Yan, and then asked about cultivation methods.

Liu Yan glanced at Zhou Ling, nodded, and praised him with a smile. "Zhou Ling, not only did you place second in this monthly assessment, but your sense of qi is also full, and your Spiritual Energy Cultivation has progressed quickly."

"You should be the fastest-improving among the Study Hall disciples. Now, I will teach you a breathing and absorption method that can be used to absorb spiritual energy."

"Consider it a reward for your performance this time."

"This breathing and absorption method is better than the basic absorption method currently cultivated at the Dao Academy, but it is also harder to comprehend!"

She rather liked Zhou Ling. Though he came from a Rogue Cultivator background and his talent was average,

he was exceptionally eager to learn, and his Comprehension was not bad either.

His performance could also be considered steady and proper.

It was just that he sometimes asked a few too many questions!

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling immediately clasped his hands and bowed with a mature expression. "Thank you, Instructor!"

The other children all looked envious when they saw this.

Liu Yan smiled, then transmitted an incantation for a breathing and absorption method directly to Zhou Ling through voice transmission.

Zhou Ling had obtained a Grade A result in this monthly assessment.

He could basically already understand the artistic conception contained within the words of the incantation.

As for how long it would take him to master it, that would depend on his own insight!

Zhou Ling listened carefully and discovered that this breathing method was not long, only around a hundred words, yet it seemed quite profound.

He did not know whether it was suitable for a beginner like him, someone who had never come into contact with cultivation methods before.

Still, he naturally trusted Liu Yan's words. No matter what, it had to be better than the Dao Academy's ordinary breathing method.

"Zhou Ling, this is the Five Elements Breath and Absorption Method. Try to comprehend and cultivate it. If there is anything you do not understand, come ask me."

"Since you possess a Five Elements Low-grade Spiritual Root, first cultivate this absorption method and lay a solid foundation. Once you determine which attribute of spiritual energy has the greatest affinity with you, then decide upon your primary cultivation method."

Liu Yan said with a smile.

"Yes, Instructor!"

Zhou Ling replied earnestly.

Having read many books, he had also learned that the more deeply inherited a sect or noble family was, the more it valued one's cultivation foundation.

They paid even greater attention to building up strength over time before unleashing it, rather than coveting temporary advancement.

On the path of cultivation, as long as one advanced steadily and laid a deep foundation, future breakthroughs would come naturally, like water flowing into a channel.

Zhou Ling had thus obtained a breathing and absorption method, leaving the other students green with envy.

Zhou Ling paid no attention to the others. After returning to his seat, he began pondering the Five Elements Breath and Absorption Method.

[You are cultivating the *Five Elements Breath and Absorption Method*, Immortal Root Aptitude +1, Comprehension +1]

After that, Zhou Ling still arrived at the Dao Academy half an hour early each day.

He cultivated the Five Elements Breath and Absorption Method while absorbing spiritual energy.

[You are breathing in spiritual energy, Spiritual Energy Affinity +1, Spiritual Energy +2]

And so he cultivated day after day.

Because he possessed a Low-Grade Spiritual Root, Zhou Ling did not have much of an advantage in cultivation speed among the Study Hall disciples.

Fortunately, his talent advantages could make up for this deficiency.

Moreover, he possessed an adult's way of thinking. His self-discipline and planning ability far surpassed those of these children.

He could endure the dull and monotonous cultivation every day.

Of course, to him now, such tedious cultivation was far better than talking with this bunch of little brats.

Still, Zhou Ling sometimes felt anxious.

Some time ago, his father had entered the mountains with several other Herb Seekers. Because they ventured too deeply into the Black Mist, they encountered a Late First-Tier Demon Beast.

Old Chu, the leader, had also suffered severe injuries, while Zhou Shan received light wounds.

Since Old Chu was the leader and was usually a righteous man, everyone unanimously agreed to give this harvest to Old Chu.

As a result, Zhou Shan had made no gains that month. Combined with his injuries, the family's finances had become rather tight.

But Zhou Ling also knew that he could not help with anything right now.

And on the path of cultivation, there was simply no rushing things.

It was not as though being anxious would make any difference.

At present, the pace at which one cultivated and absorbed spiritual energy was mainly determined by the quality of one's Spiritual Root.

With his talent boosts, Zhou Ling was already somewhat faster than others.

But trying to ascend to heaven in a single step was unrealistic.

Just like that, three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Summer arrived, along with the hottest Dog Days.

That afternoon, Zhou Ling was cultivating in the Study Hall when he suddenly felt a tingling, slightly swelling sensation in his meridians.

He immediately realized that this was a sign that his Spiritual Acupoints were about to be activated.

He promptly sped up the circulation of the Five Elements Breath and Absorption Method, and his breathing became increasingly long and steady.

[You are breathing in spiritual energy, Spiritual Energy Affinity +1, Spiritual Energy +2]

The next second, two muffled popping sounds came from within his body.

After more than three months of unceasing cultivation, he had finally activated the Spiritual Acupoints within his body.

Feeling wisps of spiritual energy flowing through his body, a smile appeared on Zhou Ling's childish face.

"This seems to be Fire Attribute Spiritual Power!"

Zhou Ling continued circulating the Five Elements Breath and Absorption Method.

[You are breathing in spiritual energy, Spiritual Energy Affinity +1, Spiritual Energy +2]

[Accumulated times breathing in spiritual energy: 7482/10000]

"It really is the fire attribute!"

"It seems that among my Five Elements Attributes, the fire attribute is the strongest."

"Still, I should wait until I activate seven or eight Spiritual Acupoints before deciding."

Zhou Ling thought to himself.

For cultivators, the primary cultivation method was the most important thing. Once it was decided, one would basically cultivate along that path from then on.

If the fire-attribute spiritual energy had the greatest affinity with his Spiritual Root, then he would certainly need to choose a fire-attribute method as his primary cultivation method in the future.

That was the only way to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

And once the decision was made, the earlier he began cultivating it, the better.

After all, while he was improving, others were improving too.

Zheng Youwei, for example, had already reached seven Spiritual Acupoints.

His cultivation speed was even a little faster than Zhou Ling's.

But Zheng Youwei was a Scion of Noble Family, with abundant resources at his disposal. Naturally, Zhou Ling could not compare.

"Zhou Ling, Yuan Hu was... was beaten up!"

At that moment, his deskmate Wang Xin hurried over and said nervously.

"Who beat him up?" Zhou Ling froze for a moment, then stood. At three years old, he was already nearly one meter tall.

Yet Wang Xin was not even shorter than him.

And she was not mute. She merely stuttered a little when speaking, so she normally did not like to talk.

Now that she had become familiar with Zhou Ling, she was no longer so shy.

"Come on, let's go take a look!"

Zhou Ling waved his hand.

It was currently the midday break, and most of the children were resting in the lounge.

Only Zhou Ling persistently cultivated and never took a nap.

Furthermore, with his daily practice of the Great Yang Fist,

his Physique and blood qi had improved greatly. Though his spiritual power was inferior to that of the other children,

in terms of fist techniques and body cultivation, no one was his match.

[Effect: Accumulated fist practice 620 times, Great Yang Fist proficiency (Proficient 20)]

[Accumulated fist practice: 620/1000]

[Physique, nutrition mediocre (7200/10000)]

A few days ago, he had also tested how much strength he possessed now.

With one hand, he could easily lift a thirty-kilogram stone pedestal.

Within a single breath, he could rapidly throw seven or eight punches.

Taken together, he was already no weaker than those martial arts competitors from Blue Star in his previous life.

However, he knew that his strength was still far behind that of a true First-Tier Body Cultivator.

But it was more than enough to deal with these little brats.