The Correct Way to Activate [Stronger from Adversity] and [Born to Excel]

However, his brows gradually furrowed.

These three cultivation arts were all First-Grade Mid-Rank arts, and the supplementary spiritual materials they required were likewise First-Grade Mid-Rank spiritual items.

A single stalk of Crimson Fire Grass or Fire Haze Grass cost five or six Low-grade Spirit Stones—quite a hefty price.

Of the three, the one he favored most was undoubtedly the Spirit Flame Art, which would be perfect for artifact refining in the future.

But the supplementary cultivation materials were simply too expensive.

His family definitely could not afford them now.

"Looks like, given my current circumstances, cultivating a First-Grade Mid-Rank art isn't very realistic!"

Zhou Ling thought to himself.

"How is it?" Seeing Zhou Ling's expression, Wang Xin could not help asking.

Zhou Ling shook his head. "Wang Xin, I'll borrow the Spirit Flame Art for now. I'll return the other two arts to you!"

As he spoke softly, he handed the other two cultivation arts back to Wang Xin.

A smile appeared on Wang Xin's face as her small hand accepted the Jade Slips.

Zhou Ling smiled and thanked her. "Wang Xin, thank you!"

"My Mother told me that we're good friends, so naturally we should help each other!"

Wang Xin looked at Zhou Ling with her clear, bright eyes.

"Right!"

Zhou Ling nodded.

Afterward, he began pondering the matter of cultivation arts.

Not having supplementary spiritual materials did not mean he could not cultivate.

It would only mean slower progress.

Supplementary spiritual materials merely stimulated the Spiritual Acupoints and meridians more effectively, allowing the cultivation art to circulate more smoothly.

Such an opportunity was hard to come by, so Zhou Ling still decided to cultivate it first and see how things went.

Besides, aristocratic family cultivation arts were profoundly mysterious. Whether he could comprehend one was another matter entirely.

Still, his current goal was not that high.

His plan was to first cultivate to the Qi Condensation Second Layer, then try learning inscriptions.

As long as he could master inscriptions, he could later learn engravings and become an artifact refiner.

"Even if I can't become a First-Rank Artifact Refiner, I can still be an ordinary artifact refiner, drawing inscriptions for a workshop. I'd still earn plenty of Spirit Stones and never have to worry about food or drink."

Zhou Ling calculated inwardly.

Of course, with the cheat at his side, he would not set his sights so low. No matter what, he had to become an officially ranked First-Rank Artifact Refiner.

But becoming an artifact refiner was no easy task.

There were quite a few workshops in Lingxia Immortal City, yet the number of cultivators who truly counted as artifact refiners was not large.

Most of those laboring in the workshops were Quenching Masters.

Artifact refining was actually divided into two parts. One part consisted of Quenching Masters, who forged the molds for Magic Artifacts.

Quenching Masters used Earth Fire to temper materials into shape.

But that was merely the embryo of a Magic Artifact; it did not yet possess any true power.

It still required a genuine artifact refiner to carve inscriptions or engravings.

Inscriptions were difficult to learn, and becoming an artifact refiner was even harder.

Among the four great auxiliary arts of cultivation, artifact refinement appeared to be the easiest to get started in.

In truth, it was not as simple as it looked.

Magic Artifacts required inscription patterns and engraving structures.

Ordinary Magic Artifacts were generally formed through carved inscription patterns.

Magic Artifacts of First-Grade Low-Rank and above, however, required engravings.

Engravings were generally formed from combinations of inscription patterns.

Six Paths Inscription Pattern could form a simple engraving.

With each additional inscription pattern in an engraving, its power increased accordingly.

Naturally, the difficulty of drawing it also multiplied.

Those capable of drawing one to three inscription patterns could become artifact refiner apprentices.

Those capable of drawing three to six inscription patterns were ordinary artifact refiners.

But only artifact refiners capable of drawing a First-grade High-tier Engraving and passing the Dao Alliance's rank assessment could be considered true First-Rank Artifact Refiners.

Once one became a First-Rank Artifact Refiner, the待遇 would be completely different.

As for the specifics, Zhou Ling still did not know much.

To him at present, they were still somewhat distant.

His most pressing task was to first accomplish what lay within his abilities.

Just as he was pondering this, footsteps sounded outside the Study Hall.

Instructor Liu Yan slowly entered the Study Hall.

That evening, after returning home and having dinner with his parents, Zhou Ling went back to his room.

Holding the Jade Slip in his hand and pressing it against his forehead, three ancient, unadorned characters surfaced in his mind: Spirit Flame Art.

Zhou Ling took a deep breath and continued reading.

The Spirit Flame Art was divided into three levels.

Upon mastering the first level, the mana within one's body could complete thirty-three minor circulation cycles.

At the second level, one would have a chance to condense spirit flames. With the aid of spirit flames, one's cultivation speed would also improve.

The third level was the foundation establishment method related to the technique, and it was also the most difficult.

Compared with the Five Elements Breathing Technique, the Spirit Flame Art was incomparably profound.

After reading only a few lines, Zhou Ling felt mental exhaustion and even pain.

These technique formulas were exceptionally obscure and arduous for him to comprehend.

Compared to the Five Elements Breathing Technique, they were worlds apart.

With the former, based on the foundational cultivation texts he had studied before, he could basically understand it.

But the Spirit Flame Art was an entirely different matter.

The further he read, the more sluggish and slow Zhou Ling's thoughts became.

A wave of dizziness and swelling filled his head.

Zhou Ling could only stop, clutching his head with both hands.

[You are cultivating Spirit Flame Art. Stronger from Adversity +1, Comprehension +5]

[You are cultivating Spirit Flame Art. Born to Excel +1, cultivation progress +1]

Suddenly, a cool sensation flowed through his mind, and Zhou Ling's pain slowly eased.

Moreover, the few technique formulas he had found difficult to fully understand just now gradually became clear to him.

Joy surged in Zhou Ling's heart. "So this is the proper way to use the [Stronger from Adversity] and [Born to Excel] talents."

Although his family was somewhat poor, his mother had always taken good care of him.

And during his more than two years of study at the Dao Academy, he had never come into contact with any true cultivation technique.

Added to that the boosts from his other talents, his cultivation had gone rather smoothly.

But now, comprehending the obscure and difficult Yellow-grade mid-tier Spirit Flame Art was extremely challenging.

Yet he had not given up easily and had persisted all along.

That was why he had gained five points of Comprehension at once.

Then, with the additional effect of the [Born to Excel] talent, he immediately gained an entirely new understanding of the technique formulas from earlier.

After pondering for a moment, a smile appeared on Zhou Ling's face.

"With my current Comprehension, I simply can't cultivate this Spirit Flame Art."

"The difficulty of this Yellow-grade mid-tier technique is far greater than I imagined!"

"Even if I ask Instructor Liu, because our cultivation techniques differ, she may not be able to offer me much guidance."

"This was something I had never anticipated before cultivating this technique."

"That's why Rogue Cultivators have it so hard. Without a good inheritance or guidance from a skilled teacher..."

"Even if one obtains this Spirit Flame Art, one may not necessarily be able to cultivate it successfully."

Zhou Ling continued to ponder.

"But with [Stronger from Adversity] working together with [Born to Excel], the difficulty for me will drop considerably!"

"As long as I study and practice more, no matter how difficult it is, I'll gradually come to understand it."

"If I can't comprehend it in one pass, then I'll do it a second time, a third time... Each time, my Comprehension and insights will increase a little. Each time, I'll understand a little more than before, until I can eventually grasp it in its entirety."

With that thought, Zhou Ling pressed the Jade Slip to his forehead again and continued reading.

Very soon, another sharp pain pierced his mind.

[You are cultivating Spirit Flame Art. Stronger from Adversity +1, Comprehension +4]

[You are cultivating Spirit Flame Art. Born to Excel +1, cultivation progress +1]

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