Qi Refining Level 2

"This ore... the manual says it's 'Moonshadow Stone,' but why does it feel almost the same as the 'Starlight Iron' beside it?" The voice of an apprentice nearby drew his attention.

The apprentice rubbed his eyes, struggling to tell them apart.

Benjamin silently scanned the ore with his spiritual power, and its elemental composition and energy properties immediately surfaced in his mind.

"It is indeed Moonshadow Stone, but it's lower-grade, and it's mixed with some iron ore."

After casually offering the reminder, he deftly picked up a common piece of ore, weighed it in his hand, and swiftly sorted it into the corresponding crate.

"Ah... thank you." The apprentice who had received the hint was somewhat dazed, but quickly came back to his senses and instinctively expressed his gratitude.

"It's nothing."

Benjamin shook his head. After all, identifying ores was also beneficial for familiarizing himself with his current power.

As the three Truth Runes, each with Alchemy Studies runes as their core pattern, settled into his mind, Benjamin could clearly feel that his soul and spirit had been affected as well, undergoing slight "evolution" almost every moment.

The distinctions between all kinds of matter and energy became clearer and clearer to him. Even without constructing Alchemy in his mind, he could still analyze everything his fingers touched.

Though this information was currently chaotic and disordered, Benjamin could clearly sense the changes taking place in his mind as he trained.

He could be certain that once the transformation was complete, even without deliberately studying it, the first spell—Alchemy—would be inscribed within his Spirit Sea.

While he was busy, Victor also put on protective gear and brought another apprentice over to their side.

Seeing the several heavy crates in front of Benjamin, a self-satisfied look appeared in his eyes.

Victor pointed at two piles of ore on the ground, his tone carrying an almost imperceptible smugness. "I'll teach you once, so remember it. Look, this pile of Glowstone seems plentiful, but each piece is light, and their shapes are regular, so they're easy to sort. That pile of Spinel Ore may be smaller, but they're all large chunks, and their sharp edges can easily prick your hands. Let's finish this pile of Glowstone first. It's faster, we can settle the task earlier, and then rest for a while before dealing with that troublesome pile."

His partner apparently had not considered this angle. He froze for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

The corner of Victor's mouth curled into an almost invisible smile, and he immediately began sorting the Glowstone at high speed, his movements as nimble as those of an assembly-line worker.

Benjamin took it all in.

It was clear that these Wizard Apprentices were also short on points, and "smart people" like Victor had even begun earning commissions by guiding newcomers.

This was also the difference between apprentices with a wizard background and those without one. Though their talent and strength might be similar, the disparity in accumulated knowledge from childhood onward was not something that could be caught up in a day or two.

Benjamin silently continued sorting, constantly accumulating knowledge. He said nothing, and felt nothing toward Victor's showy "demonstration."

After all, Victor merely had a slight advantage, while he had no need to care at all.

The night was deep.

Benjamin finally completed the task. After leaving Warehouse No. 5, he still felt as though the dust from sorting ores and the pungent scent of plants clung to his body.

But he had no time to return to his dormitory and wash away the grime, nor any time to rest even briefly. His heart was filled with urgency.

The point balance on the task board had finally jumped to the number he desperately needed—five.

Five points were enough for him to open another "private room."

Without returning to the Workshop belonging to the Alchemy Department, Benjamin reserved a laboratory at the Magic Network Terminal beside the warehouse and sprinted directly toward the laboratory area of the nearby Potions Department.

After the training of "sorting" in Warehouse No. 5, the three Truth Runes in his mind had become increasingly active, and the inside of his Spirit Sea had also grown restless.

Even the True Essence within his body was like blazing fire that had been ignited, surging wildly through his meridians. Every pulse seemed to remind him that a breakthrough was already pressing at his heels and could not be delayed!

Benjamin felt that if his self-control had not been extraordinary, he probably would have been unable to hold it in long ago. Even now, he stood at the edge of breaking through at any moment.

He swiftly activated the temporary laboratory assigned to him, pushed open the door, and entered that cramped, simple isolated space.

The moment the door closed, all the noise and troubles of the outside world were shut out, leaving only himself and the power within him that was about to erupt.

Benjamin did not hesitate. He immediately sat cross-legged in the center of the laboratory, took a deep breath, and sank his entire mind into his body.

Qi Refining Level 2.

This was not actually particularly important in the Immortal Cultivation System. According to the Great Dao Library, as long as someone could cultivate Qi Refining Level 1, no matter how mediocre their aptitude or resources, they could at least reach Qi Refining Level 3 through the grinding of time.

After breaking through, True Essence would become more condensed, circulate faster, and nourish both body and spirit far more effectively.

But likewise, because there were no real obstacles, once Spiritual Power had been fully accumulated, it was exceptionally difficult to suppress a breakthrough.

"Now!"

He no longer suppressed it, allowing the vast torrent of True Essence within him to circulate rapidly.

The methods recorded in the Great Dao Library flashed through his mind, guiding that violent power.

Rumble—

The world within his body seemed to undergo an earth-shattering transformation!

His meridians expanded and toughened beneath the scouring of True Essence. The lake of True Essence in his dantian spun and compressed at high speed, releasing a low roar.

Intense pain swept through his entire body, yet Benjamin's consciousness remained exceptionally clear as he precisely guided the True Essence along its designated paths to complete the transformation.

The laboratory's rudimentary isolation array emitted a faint hum, resisting the sudden burst of energy fluctuations from Benjamin's body.

The process lasted roughly half an hour. Sweat soaked through Benjamin's clothes, his body trembled slightly, and his face was abnormally pale.

But as the final meridian finished reforming, a brand-new and even more powerful sensation instantly spread throughout his body!

Qi Refining Level 2!

He had succeeded!

The True Essence within him was as dense as mercury, and its quantity had increased severalfold compared to Qi Refining Level 1.

Within his meridians, True Essence flowed like a great river surging forward, producing a pleasant roar.

The strength of his body slowly rose under the nourishment of True Essence, while his Spirit Sea seemed infused with fresh vitality, becoming clearer and broader.

Benjamin slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath of foul air tinged with black.

Though his body was weak, he felt stronger and clearer than ever before.

"Not bad. The enhanced spiritual power should probably be enough to inscribe another Truth Rune."

Sensing the strength of the spiritual power within his Spirit Sea, Benjamin smiled in satisfaction.

This way, becoming a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice was just around the corner.

"Come to think of it, the cultivation methods of Cultivators and wizards both advance continuously."

Recalling the similarities between the two methods of cultivation, he could not help falling into thought.

Though the Basic Qi Refining Method Benjamin cultivated used the relatively ancient principle of Refining Essence into Qi, according to the Great Dao Library, it was indeed a relatively new method.

Although Benjamin did not really understand how the age of cultivation methods was determined, both Qi Refining Methods and Meditation Methods shared a rather obvious trait—few bottlenecks.

The Qi Refining Method only had bottlenecks when advancing from Qi Refining Level 3 to Level 4, from Level 6 to Level 7, and from Level 9 to Foundation Establishment. The remaining levels could theoretically be reached through enough time and gradual grinding.

Wizard Meditation Methods were the same. Only when a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice advanced to a Formal Wizard did things become troublesome. Apart from that, the three levels of Wizard Apprentices had no such thing as bottlenecks at all. As long as enough Truth Runes were inscribed, one could advance.

"In theory, as long as there's enough time, anyone can rise to become a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice. But that's only in theory."

The crux lay in the words "enough time."

Qi Refiners were better off. Even the most basic Qi Refining Level 1 integrated their own vitality, and living energetically and free of illness to the age of one hundred and sixty was no problem.

Wizards were more troublesome. While elemental power strengthened a wizard's spirit, it also strengthened the body, but at the same time, it eroded vitality.

If they could not become Formal Wizards, ordinary Wizard Apprentices had a maximum lifespan of only seventy years.

Moreover, unlike Qi Refiners, who grew stronger with age, once Wizard Apprentices passed their peak years, the aging of their bodies would drag down and weaken their Spirit Seas, causing them to grow weaker the older they became.

Of course, this problem would be completely resolved after becoming a Formal Wizard. In fact, because of the body modification techniques in which wizards excelled, they could even surpass Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in terms of lifespan.

"Overall, Qi Refiners have longer lifespans, but more bottlenecks, and the requirements for advancement are also more troublesome. Wizard Apprentices advance more easily, but... I'm afraid advancing from Wizard Apprentice to Formal Wizard is far more difficult than imagined."

Shaking his head and no longer dwelling on these matters, Benjamin felt his body, now returned to normal, and stood up.

There was still plenty of laboratory time left, and Benjamin began to worry over how to use the remaining time.

Go browse the Magic Network for a while?

But renting a laboratory cost the equivalent of five cubic meters of gold. Was using it merely as an internet café a little too extravagant?

Yet aside from that, there did not seem to be anything else he could do...

At that moment, the first gentle ray of light appeared through the laboratory's only window—a small opening made from special material that blocked outside spying while allowing light to pass through.

Dawn had arrived.

Benjamin stood there, watching that gradually rising sunlight, and his body could not help but shudder!

(Because of Qidian's recommendation rules, new books really can't update too much during the new-book period, but I'll try to make every chapter a little longer. Also, please follow and vote with monthly tickets!!! These two are very important for a new book!!!)