Cultivating First-order Mid-grade Engravings (Requesting Follows Monthly Tickets Recommendation Tickets)

"Hah!"

Zhou Ling circulated the Spirit Flame Art and immediately felt the speed at which he absorbed spiritual energy faintly increase by another fraction.

[You are absorbing spiritual energy. Spiritual Energy Affinity +1, Spiritual Energy +4]

After cultivating for a while, Zhou Ling was so excited that all drowsiness vanished.

He could not help considering his plans for what came next.

"With the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation and the First-grade Low-tier Inscription Technique, becoming an Outer Sect Disciple of the Lingxia Sect should not be a problem."

"Besides, I've now saved over eighty Low-grade Spirit Stones—enough to make a brewing furnace for Mother."

"As for a place to brew, our little courtyard at home will suffice."

"As for sales, I can try contacting inns, restaurants, and the like when the time comes."

Zhou Ling thought to himself.

However, in order to save his mother's spiritual power and improve the quality of the Spirit Wine she brewed, he decided to make her a First-order Mid-grade Brewing Furnace.

Of course, a mid-grade brewing furnace cost several times more on the market than a low-grade one.

Fortunately, Zhou Ling could now attempt to refine First-order Mid-grade Engravings.

Although he had only just entered the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation, his [Precise Control] talent had already reached the second tier. The energy he expended when drawing Engravings was one-third less than that of ordinary Inscription Masters.

That was the advantage of talent.

As for the furnace vessel itself—

According to the quotation Master Lu had given him last time, forging one from Crystal Jade would cost roughly over forty Low-grade Spirit Stones.

As long as he could draw the Engravings for the brewing furnace himself, he could save several dozen Low-grade Spirit Stones.

He then got down from the wooden bed, lit the Firestone Lamp, and took out the Five Elements Basic Engraving Jade Slip.

He had already mastered the thirty-six basic Engravings of the Five Elements Attribute.

The latter half of the Jade Slip contained another five First-order Mid-grade Engravings.

As the Jade Slip pressed against his forehead, his divine sense entered it.

"Earth Prison Engraving: thirteen Earth Attribute inscription patterns. Earth Attribute isn't my specialty, so there's no rush."

"Cold Soul Engraving: thirteen Water Attribute inscription patterns, condensing cold energy for attack."

"Gold Shield Engraving: thirteen metal-attribute inscription patterns, used for defense."

"I should start with a fire-attribute Engraving I'm familiar with!"

Very soon, Zhou Ling found the fire-attribute True Fire Engraving among the five First-order Mid-grade Engravings.

Thirteen fire-attribute inscription patterns; once drawn, they could condense true fire.

Zhou Ling then began studying this First-order Mid-grade Engraving, the True Fire Engraving.

Although a First-order Mid-grade Engraving appeared to have only one additional inscription pattern, its overall structure and method of connection were already completely different.

Its difficulty was more than twice that of a First-order Low-grade Engraving.

Not only were there more inscription patterns, but Engraving nodes also had to be formed. The circulation of spiritual power was more complex and the consumption greater.

When he first began observing and comprehending it, Zhou Ling still found it somewhat strenuous.

Engraving nodes were a concept he had only just encountered. They seemed to be vessels that carried the flow of spiritual power between inscription patterns.

Constructing them required a certain amount of spiritual power.

The methods of linking the thirteen inscription patterns were even more intricate and unpredictable. The Engraving was obscure beyond compare, leaving him dazzled and confused.

His divine sense was also being rapidly depleted.

For a time, his entire mind felt muddled. Looking at the True Fire Engraving, he felt completely at sea, with no clue where to begin.

[You are cultivating Engravings. Stronger from Adversity +1, Comprehension +3]

Before long, a feeling of sudden enlightenment gradually arose in Zhou Ling's mind.

When he continued studying the True Fire Engraving, it was no longer as obscure as before. Its patterns began to flow smoothly and fall into order.

The inscription patterns were like schools of fish circling around the nodes.

Upon the Engraving, its structure, each inscription pattern, their methods of connection, and the arrangement of its Engraving nodes gradually became clear.

First three inscription patterns, then six...

One inscription pattern after another surfaced slowly in his mind, like unraveling silk and peeling away cocoons. With every additional pattern, Zhou Ling's understanding of the True Fire Engraving deepened by another layer.

At the same time, the Engraving nodes, its structural diagram, and the methods of connection gradually became clearer as well.

When Zhou Ling comprehended the final inscription pattern, the entire True Fire Engraving looked like a rising flame.

Zhou Ling opened his eyes. Outside the Window, the moon's shadow had slanted westward, and the occasional sound of a night watchman drifted over.

Without realizing it, it was already the early hours of the morning.

After more than two hours, he had finally comprehended the True Fire Engraving.

Tomorrow was a Rest Day, and Zhou Ling had no plans to sleep, wanting to strike while his understanding of the True Fire Engraving was still fresh.

Zhou Ling took out a sheet of Spirit Paper and laid it neatly on the wooden table.

He began drawing the engraving.

Limited by his Spiritual Energy Cultivation, his first strokes did not go smoothly.

By the ninth Inscription Pattern, he was already stumbling.

Very soon, a wisp of green smoke rose from the Spirit Paper. Before the engraving could take shape, he had already lost Precise Control over his spiritual power at the eleventh Inscription Pattern.

[You are drawing an engraving. Precise Control +1, True Fire Engraving proficiency +1]

[You are drawing an engraving. Born to Excel +1, engraving proficiency +1]

Another sheet of Spirit Paper had gone to waste, and Zhou Ling felt a pang of heartache.

Though he could now fully afford Spirit Paper worth one or two pieces of Broken Spirit—

Even a mosquito was still meat!

Zhou Ling carefully observed and analyzed it again.

[You are analyzing the True Fire Engraving. Basic Analysis +1, True Fire Engraving proficiency +1]

As the notification sounded, a new drawing method appeared in Zhou Ling's mind.

He would first draw the engraving nodes and framework, then add the Inscription Patterns last.

This would reduce the consumption of spiritual power, while making the engraving's structure more stable, durable, and long-lasting.

This analytical effect also helped him avoid many detours when drawing engravings.

He then circulated the Spirit Flame Art to restore his Internal Spiritual Power.

[You are absorbing spiritual energy. Spiritual Energy Affinity +1, spiritual energy +4]

After circulating it through seven cycles, Zhou Ling opened his eyes again and felt that the spiritual power in his meridians had recovered considerably.

By then, dawn was just beginning to brighten outside the window.

The fragrance of Mother's steamed buns drifted from the kitchen into his room.

Smelling the aroma of spiritual rice mixed within, Zhou Ling could not help swallowing.

His stomach was indeed getting a little hungry.

But there was still quite some time before the meal, and Zhou Ling did not want to waste it. He immediately continued drawing the True Fire Engraving.

This time, following the insights from his analysis, he first drew the engraving nodes and overall framework.

The results were indeed much better, and he completed the entire engraving in a single attempt.

But it still did not succeed. There was another mistake.

The lines where the Inscription Patterns connected to the nodes were not refined enough, and the spiritual power flowed through them sluggishly. It was only a failed engraving.

"No rush. I'll take it slowly!"

Zhou Ling shook his head helplessly.

Even so, he was already quite satisfied with his current state.

He stretched, and outside, the sky had already turned fully bright.

From the courtyard came the sound of Mother drawing water and washing clothes, as well as the thudding bangs of Father practicing the Great Yang Fist against a wooden post.

"Father, Mother, I've reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation!"

Barefoot, Zhou Ling walked out of his room and called out to his parents with delight.

All these years, what Zhou Shan and Li Ru had longed for most was for him to reach the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation before the age of ten and become an Outer Sect Disciple of the Lingxia Sect.

That was why Zhou Ling could not wait to tell them the news.

He wanted to set their minds at ease and make them happy.

"Really?!"

Zhou Shan, who had been throwing punches, and Li Ru, who had been scrubbing clothes, stopped almost at the same moment and asked in unison.