"Early Qi Refining takes nearly twenty years... and after that come the middle stage, late stage, and Great Perfection..."
Aaron counted on his fingers. "That's not even considering bottlenecks. And cultivation will inevitably take even more time later on. By that calculation... conservatively speaking, I'll probably need at least a hundred years just to barely reach the tenth layer of Qi Refining?"
That rate of progress was clearly wrong. After all, Aaron possessed three spiritual roots, which was considered middling even among cultivators.
If even average talent was this despairing, then how many people could possibly achieve Foundation Establishment?
"Spiritual energy conditions, medicinal pills, guidance from elders, special techniques... no wonder even Rogue Cultivators have to head to the cultivation world instead of muddling about among mortals. They simply can't afford the time! So long as they want their mana to advance, or even want to reach Foundation Establishment, they have to squeeze into the cultivation world! They have to throw themselves into the grind!"
After thinking it over, Aaron understood where he fell short.
"But it's fine... I can be a salted fish. A hundred years, then a hundred years it is... The trouble is, the Primal Unity Art only has its first six layers. A few decades from now, I'll still have to try making contact with the cultivation world!"
Aaron walked out of the cave abode and entered a patch of woodland on the deserted island.
He rapidly uttered several syllables, and with a boom, a ball of flame appeared in his palm.
—Fireball Technique!
With a flick of his finger, Aaron sent the little fireball flying. It landed precisely upon an ancient tree.
Then savage flames flashed, and that towering old tree turned to ash...
"Even if I grind the Fireball Technique's proficiency to perfection, I