More than a decade passed.
Inside the laboratory, rows of data continuously scrolled across the projected screen beneath the cold blue lighting.
Benjamin sat before the experiment table, propping his chin up with one hand as he stared at the final derivation report before him. He let out a soft breath.
"Finally... I understand it."
Over the past dozen years, he had poured nearly all his energy into analyzing the underlying principles of the Blood Sacrifice Method.
He had long since gone through every jade slip in the Great Dao Library concerning similar techniques more times than he could count.
He had also sorted and categorized, line by line, all sorts of demonic-path secret arts related to aptitude, orthodox scriptures, and even fragmentary cultivation notes. At the same time, he had incorporated the Wizard Civilization's theories on spiritual power, soul structure, and the essence of life into his analytical model. Today, the final missing piece had finally fallen into place.
Benjamin reached out and stared at the conclusion on the screen for a long while before suddenly smiling.
"So that's how it is."
"The answer had been written on the face of the riddle all along."
The "spiritual aptitude" within a Cultivator's constitution referred to the "spirituality" of living beings.
Yes, the term itself had told everyone from the very beginning what aptitude truly was.
Why was the Cultivation System's energy called Spirit Energy?
Why was the power cultivated called Spiritual Power?
Why was cultivation talent called spiritual aptitude?
The answer had always been right there.
Because the three were merely different manifestations of the same thing.
So-called spirituality was a lifeform's ability to perceive and receive external knowledge and laws... or rather, the Great Dao.
It was also the medium through which life established a connection with Spirit Energy.