Qi Condensation, Qi Condensation! The More I Cultivate, The Angrier I Get! [Seeking Recommendation Tickets!]

Lü Shiwu, Meng Jian, and others arrived in a flash and then drifted away.

They rushed towards [Bone Chasing Mountain].

Meng Nan remained on Cang Mountain.

His cultivation had regressed, so he organized what he could rely on in this life—

"Sword Box."

"Soul Banner."

"Talisman General Black Armor."

Among the various methods and numerous treasures, these three were the most important.

Among them, the 'Sword Box' was originally Meng Nan's primary sharp weapon during the Qi Refining Stage.

This 'Sword Box' was extraordinary.

It contained forty-two flying swords, each one not inferior, truly a top-grade item.

Stored within the box, it was nourished by Magical Power.

Once released, coordinated with the 'Small Thousand Sword Array', Meng Nan's combat power during the Qi Refining Stage was not low; he could even contend with ordinary Qi Refining cultivators of the second or third realm.

But this required relying on his own Magical Power and his mastery of the 'Small Thousand Sword Array'.

Meng Nan's cultivation had now fallen, and the power the 'Sword Box' could unleash in his hands would also greatly decrease. Unless he returned to the Qi Refining Stage, it would be of little use.

Based on his current cultivation, it could only rank last among the magical artifacts of the Three Sects.

It was different for the latter two.

"In the 'Soul Banner', there are currently two hundred and forty main souls and three thousand six hundred evil spirits. When the banner is waved, the Yin souls and evil spirits within are released, exuding a ghostly aura, and the Sha Qi assaults the face, forcing ordinary Qi Refining cultivators to retreat three leagues."

This was a genuine Qi Refining-level magical artifact, and it didn't require much Magical Power; it could be activated merely by incantations and hand seals.

It could be used immediately.

The only drawback was that if it couldn't be completely refined, it couldn't be further nurtured to increase the power of the 'Soul Banner' and the strength of the souls within.

However, if Meng Nan, with his current cultivation, were to forcefully refine it, it would only lead to backlash.

"No rush to refine it."

"It's fine as long as it can be used."

Meng Nan then looked at the third treasure.

Talisman General Black Armor!

This was a technique Meng Nan encountered in his third life and obtained in his seventh life. It could fuse True Essence masters with magical artifacts and armor into a single entity. Based on the five elements, it could manifest five sets of Talisman General Black Armor: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.

Each set possessed extraordinary power.

After nearly a hundred years of nurturing by Meng Nan, each of these five sets of Talisman General Black Armor now possessed the combat power of a quasi-Qi Refining level.

When the five sets fought together.

The five elements harmonized.

Their combat power directly soared to the Qi Refining level, not inferior to the 'Soul Banner'.

Soul Banner.

Talisman General Black Armor.

These were the two Qi Refining-level magical artifacts in Meng Nan's hands this lifetime.

Coupled with the 'Sword Box'.

Although Meng Nan's Magical Power was only at the third level, having just reached one hundred years, and his cultivation was stuck at the first realm, 'Ming Qi', his combat power was not weak—

He could fight those at the fifth or sixth level!

He could fight those at the second or third realm!

He was not at the bottom of the Qi Refining Stage.

"Compared to He Weiyang and the Four Monsters of Mirror Mountain, I am not weak."

"But compared to Lü Shiwu and Second Brother, I am inferior."

Meng Nan flipped through the jade slips, observing the various Qi Refining duels within, understanding the general level of this lifetime and the direction he needed to improve.

He sorted them out one by one.

Targeted improvement.

Before advancing to the Qi Refining Stage in reality, Meng Nan's small goal was temporarily set as—to achieve peak Qi Refining in the future timeline, to be invincible in Qi Refining!

To be invincible in Qi Refining, the prerequisite was to advance to Qi Refining!

In this lifetime.

In the 47th year of the Immortal Calendar, Meng Nan obtained a Great Elixir called 'Zhī Lóng Fruit' from [Xuanwu Mountain]. With the help of the Great Elixir, he broke through in one fell swoop.

From his fifth life to his tenth, Meng Nan learned the precise information for eight Great Elixirs in total.

From his sixth life to this one, Meng Nan refined a different Great Elixir each life. The first five lives all ended in failure, with only this life succeeding.

"Zhī Lóng Fruit."

"This Great Elixir suits me best."

"Immortal Calendar year 47."

Meng Nan certainly didn't want to wait until Immortal Calendar year 47 to break through.

Furthermore, relying on a Great Elixir was only a 'Middle Method,' resulting in impure Magical Power after breaking through.

In the past, Meng Nan had no concept of this.

But in this life, he personally broke through and cultivated for ninety-three years in the Qi Refining Stage, only then understanding the hardships involved.

"I occupy a mine vein and have foresight. I consume hundreds of pounds of Spirit Sand annually, yet my Magical Power growth is only just enough to meet the standard."

What is 'standard'?

Qi Refining cultivators have a lifespan of three hundred years. They must cultivate three hundred years' worth of Magical Power to reach the peak of Qi Refining, gaining the qualification to attempt a breakthrough.

On average, they must cultivate one year's worth of Magical Power each year.

This is the 'standard'!

As for 'one year's worth of Magical Power'--

Magical Power is profound and mysterious, transforming into 'Dan Yuan,' which is round and lustrous, capable of gathering and dispersing.

One 'Dan Yuan' is equivalent to 'one year's worth of Magical Power.'

Then, using Magical Power Dan Yuan to mark points, a Qi Refining network is constructed.

Layer upon layer.

One after another.

Up to the ninth level of Qi Refining.

With the 'Lower Method' and 'Middle Method' for advancement, Magical Power becomes impure and mixed. This affects Magical Power growth during Qi Refining. Dan Yuan will have flaws, making the construction of the Qi Refining network more difficult, and its effectiveness lower once constructed.

One mistake leads to subsequent mistakes.

Among these factors, Bone Structure also plays a role. This makes cultivation even more difficult for Qi Refining cultivators like Meng Nan, whose Bone Structure was already at its limit and who only advanced using the 'Middle Method.'

It could be described as inching forward.

Without resources, it might take ten years to cultivate one year's worth of Magical Power.

External aid, such as continuous Spirit Sand and Spirit Pills, is necessary.

However, this would make the Magical Power even less pure, leading to slower cultivation in the future.

It was only by relying on opening and mining this life that Meng Nan managed to reach the level of cultivating one year's worth of Magical Power per year, a tenfold increase.

Maintaining this further on would be difficult.

"Magical Power is difficult to cultivate!"

This is the most frequent lament Meng Nan left in his jade slips regarding cultivation.

And the difficulty of Qi Refining is not solely due to Magical Power.

There is also 'Dao cultivation.'

"Three hundred years of Magical Power."

"Fourth stage Dao cultivation."

Meng Nan examined them meticulously and shook his head.

The 'Lower Method' is a dead end.

The 'Middle Method' is also a dead end.

No wonder there are so many 'Left Path' cultivators in the world--

Qi Refining, Qi Refining, the more you refine, the more frustrated you get!

Rather than living a life of mediocrity, it would be better to abandon Magical Power and Dao cultivation altogether, focusing solely on sorcery and external tools, living a carefree and unrestrained life for one lifetime.

Three hundred years.

Although short, it can still be brilliant.

This is not necessarily a bad path or choice for those cultivating through the 'Lower Method' and 'Middle Method' of Qi Refining.

If you want to start with Qi Refining and walk the grand immortal path--

Only the 'Upper Method' will suffice!

In the jade slips, Meng Nan of this life, after advancing in Qi Refining, learned the key to the 'Upper Method.'

"Condense Yuan Reveal Intent."

"Temper Yuan Remove Impurities."

"Yuan Achieved Stabilize Spirit."

The focus of breaking through the 'Upper Method' still lies in 'True Essence'.

The first realm of the True Essence Stage is 'Sense Imprint', imprinting and stabilizing the five senses, leading to a comprehensive transcendence of perception, which is then called 'Super Sensation'. This makes one highly perceptive and is also the prerequisite for finding 'Spiritual Opportunity'.

The second realm is 'Three Cavities'.

The first stage of this realm is 'Stealing', and the second stage is 'Opening'.

Both are extremely dangerous.

The second stage is the most dangerous of all—

Once 'Opening' is attempted, there is no turning back; failure to advance means death.

Zhao Xiaoshuang in her fifth life, and Meng Nan in his ninth and tenth lives, both died because they attempted to 'Open' the Three Cavities while trying to break through to Qi Condensation.

This is the most dangerous, a challenge that has defeated countless heroes.

The danger level of the first stage is slightly lower, but it still carries risks.

For example, Meng Nan's fourth life ended in Qi Deviation and death due to a careless attempt at 'Stealing' from the Three Cavities.

'Stealing'!

This term is quite evocative.

At the peak of True Essence, with transcendent five senses, one locates the position of the Three Cavities and then carefully taps open a sliver of the portal, creating a gap. Like a thieving mouse, one greedily sniffs the abundant Primal Qi contained within the Three Cavities' portal. However, one dares not be too greedy, only gently nudging the gap open to absorb a small amount of Primal Qi to refine oneself, allowing one's entire Primal Qi to Revert to Root, removing impurities.

The purer the Primal Qi, the greater the chance of finding a Spiritual Opportunity after truly Opening the Three Cavities.

But 'Stealing' is not easy.

Each attempt requires complete focus, and one must never be greedy or overreach. Any hint of greed leads to excess, which can cause the Primal Qi to go berserk.

At that point, one must either go all in and attempt a breakthrough.

Or try to suppress the Primal Qi with all one's might, but this often leads to Qi Deviation and death.

Advancing leads to death.

Retreating leads to death.

This is the danger.

Because of this danger, progress is very slow.

Thus, ten years, twenty years, thirty years.

One has no idea to what extent the Primal Qi has been purified or when the end will come.

Through long years of constant struggle, one cannot even sense with Super Sensation whether the True Essence has reached ultimate purity or if it is still continuing to purify.

This is torment, and also a test.

To cultivate the 'Upper Method', one must endure temptation, withstand torment, pass through countless trials, and finally, with unwavering resolve, Open the Three Cavities and break through in one go.

Yet, even with full confidence, many still fail the Upper Method.

There is no specific standard.

This inevitably leaves people feeling lost.

Seeking recommendation votes!

PS: Recommending a new book by a great author.

Book Title: Global Game: Inheriting a God-Tier Civilization at the Start

Author: Yi Xi Cheng Dao.

Synopsis: Data-driven interstellar warfare, inheriting a god-tier civilization's legacy at the start, a universe in the palm of your hand.