Enlightenment Through Water Vapor!

"Sss-sss-sss~~~"

The Xiantian True Essence, flowing like countless droplets merging into a trickling stream, was instantly devoured the moment it touched the Blue Flower.

Inside the Blue Flower Space.

As the True Essence was consumed by the Blue Flower, a faint, incredibly faint, trace of 'water vapor' began to slowly emerge.

In fact, had Zhou Hao not been focusing with absolute intensity, he might not have noticed it at all.

If the Blue Flower Mist formed previously—when the Blue Flower devoured the solar and lunar energies directly descended from the two Supreme Stars—was like a thin wisp of smoke, then what formed from devouring the True Essence within Zhou Hao's body was merely a wisp of water vapor, the kind that naturally evaporates from a cup of lukewarm water.

"The gap is just too huge," Zhou Hao sighed helplessly. "Should this even be called Blue Flower Water Vapor?"

A small wisp of Blue Flower Mist could boost his body by two tiers, allowing him to unleash the combat power of a Xiantian Peak stage while only at the Xiantian Initial stage.

Could this Blue Flower Water Vapor even have half the efficacy of the mist?

It was doubtful.

"Better than nothing," Zhou Hao encouraged himself.

But reality dealt him another blow soon after.

Even if the Blue Flower Water Vapor was thinner, Zhou Hao could have endured it.

Yet, after feeding almost all of his Xiantian True Essence to that Blue Flower Boss, only three such wisps of water vapor had appeared, so faint they seemed ready to dissipate at any moment.

What could he possibly do with such a tiny amount?

"I refuse to believe this." Another High-Grade Origin Stone appeared in Zhou Hao's hand.

He had used exactly twelve stones for this cultivation session, and only four remained in his Mustard Stone Space.

He had originally intended to save a few for quick recovery in case he encountered combat and exhausted his True Essence.

But now, he couldn't afford to care.

Compared to future recovery, Zhou Hao was more eager to understand the appetite of that Blue Flower Boss and get a clear sense of the effects of both the Blue Flower Mist and the Blue Flower Water Vapor.

That was the key!

The Xiantian True Essence within Zhou Hao's body was continuously devoured by the Blue Flower, while the High-Grade Origin Stone in his hand provided a steady stream of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi.

Fortunately, Zhou Hao's God and Devil Body was a perfect vessel nurtured by Lunar True Water and Solar True Fire, possessing tough meridians that could withstand the strain.

If it were a Xiantian Lifeform of the ordinary Qi-refining path, their meridians would likely have suffered damage.

Pop!

As the last High-Grade Origin Stone was drained of its Heaven and Earth Origin Qi and crumbled into powder, thirty-six more wisps of Blue Flower Water Vapor appeared in Zhou Hao's Blue Flower Space.

Watching those thirty-six wisps of Blue Flower Water Vapor swirl and entwine, slowly coalescing into a slightly denser wisp of vapor, with the original three wisps trailing behind like little followers, Zhou Hao finally felt a bit more confident.

His Xiantian Initial stage True Essence, when fully exhausted, could produce three wisps of Blue Flower Water Vapor; one High-Grade Origin Stone was enough for him to absorb and recover his True Essence three times, producing nine wisps of Blue Flower Water Vapor.

In other words, four High-Grade Origin Stones, once absorbed and converted into Xiantian True Essence and fed to the Blue Flower, could produce one full wisp—that is, thirty-six wisps of water vapor.

"These High-Grade Origin Stones are a bit expensive," Zhou Hao thought to himself. "I hope it doesn't disappoint me."

Whoosh! Zhou Hao stood up and left the quiet room.

He was going to test the effects of these Blue Flower Water Vapors.

Ten miles north of Jade Dragon City.

Bang!

Zhou Hao kicked off the ground with force, his body shooting into the high air like an arrow.

Whoosh~~~

As his body reached its peak, his True Essence manifested, forming two wings that allowed him to glide like a bird toward a massive reef not far away.

Thud!

He landed safely.

Only, two craters were left in the hard, rocky ground.

"I really need to learn a movement technique. Otherwise, always running and jumping on the ground—how can I call myself a cultivator?"

Zhou Hao shook his head and pulled his feet out of the craters.

It was true that he had practiced Internal Martial Arts under his master, but the movement techniques of Internal Martial Arts were mostly footwork for combat and killing. Even when running, it was just about closing the pores, controlling the body's force, and stimulating physical potential to unleash maximum power and speed with minimal effort.

Things like "flying over grass" or "crossing the river on a reed" were only found in martial arts novels and movies; at least in his previous world, he had never seen them.

"The Martial Repository should have movement techniques. If not, I'll just go find Master Jingzhi and listen to another day of lectures."

Although sitting there like a well-behaved student listening to lectures was quite a torment, one had to do what was necessary when seeking help!

Boom! Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~~~

The spot Zhou Hao had chosen was right by the East Sea, where the rising tide crashed against the reefs with a sound like thunder.

The coastline was covered in reefs, eroded for countless years by sea winds and waves, leaving no soil behind, only towering, pitch-black rocks.

"You'll do."

Zhou Hao walked up to a reef nearly ten feet in diameter and over three feet tall.

"Let's first test the power of using only physical strength." Zhou Hao extended his right hand, curled his fingers into a hammer-like fist, and slammed it violently into the reef.

Boom~~~

The reef trembled slightly, leaving a small pit where his fist struck, with faint cracks spreading outward.

"So hard." Zhou Hao shook his right arm.

That reef was fused with the entire underground rock layer, hardened like iron from being battered by the sea year-round.

"Let's try again and see how much the Blue Flower Water Vapor can enhance it." Zhou Hao split off a sliver of consciousness, drawing a wisp of Blue Flower Water Vapor from the Blue Flower Space to flow into his right arm, then threw another punch.

Boom~~~

This time, the reef trembled violently, and another pit, roughly three feet square, appeared beside the previous one.

"My power increased by nearly two-fold." Zhou Hao smiled.

Do not underestimate a two-fold increase in power; this was achieved without using any fist techniques, relying purely on raw brute force.

If he were to incorporate fist techniques, or even a weapon...

Boom, boom, boom~~~~

The reef chosen as a target became covered in pits.

In the end, Zhou Hao took up the Red Gold Copper Rod and, with a full-force strike, shattered it into a pile of rubble.

"Although it isn't like the Blue Flower Mist that allows me to leap across ranks in power, at least as long as I have True Essence, it can be produced continuously."

Zhou Hao nodded, feeling satisfied.

There were only a few wisps of mist left in the Blue Flower Space, kept as a trump card to unleash cross-rank combat power at critical moments.

Now that the Blue Flower Water Vapor could be produced by consuming Innate True Essence, it meant he could use it at any time during battle without worrying about running out.

If only the Blue Flower Water Vapor could make him enter the state of 'no thought, no mind' for enlightenment like the mist, that would be perfect.

"Let's give it a try." Zhou Hao's eyes lit up. He swung the Red Gold Copper Rod with both hands, beginning to practice the Chaotic Cloak Staff Technique he had obtained from Yuan Lie, one move at a time.

Enlightenment is not something that can be gained simply by sitting and staring at flowing water or raging fire; one must practice techniques to bring their own heart and mind closer to the Dao to achieve it.

He had previously comprehended the True Meaning of the Dao for Flowing Water and Raging Fire while constantly practicing the Innate Taiji Fist, surrounded by the surging water and fire transformed from Lunar True Water and Solar True Fire, only then achieving enlightenment in that state of 'no thought, no mind.'

If one were to simply enter that state, it would at most result in a more ethereal state of mind.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Facing the night sea breeze, the copper rod in Zhou Hao's hands transformed into countless rod shadows, the resulting gusts of wind making the airflow along the coast even more chaotic.

The Chaotic Cloak Staff Technique obtained from Yuan Lie focused on the word 'chaotic.'

As the saying goes, 'wind has no constant force, water has no constant shape.' When performed, the boundless rod shadows are heavy and powerful, accompanied by chaotic gusts of wind, making it most suitable for heavy weapons like staffs, whips, and maces.

God-Devil Body Refining experts are naturally adept at close-quarters combat, so this was a perfect match.

This set of staff techniques appeared frantic, but it actually consisted of six moves.

They were: Howling Gale, Splitting Wind and Splashing Waves, Wind Sweeping Away Scattered Clouds, Swift Thunder Fierce Wind, Wind-Agitated Lightning-Shock, and Yellow Wind Mist Veil.

When Zhou Hao fought Yuan Lie last time, the yellow dust and sand kicked up to form a yellow mist was precisely that move, 'Yellow Wind Mist Veil.'

As Zhou Hao practiced the staff technique, his consciousness drew a wisp of water vapor from the Blue Flower Space to fuse with his soul.

"How marvelous."

The moment the Blue Flower Water Vapor touched his soul, Zhou Hao felt the difference from the Blue Flower Mist that had allowed him to enter the state of 'no thought, no mind.'

The state of 'no thought, no mind' was like a sudden epiphany, where one forgets everything, even oneself, with no thoughts at all, as the heart and mind align with the Heavenly Dao itself.

This wisp of Blue Flower Water Vapor, however, kept his mind clear, making his perception of the entire world's pulse much sharper, yet he could still sense the outside world, hold thoughts, and reflect.

Do not underestimate this state. For many cultivators, and even for supreme figures at the level of Earth Immortals or Heavenly Immortals, while Heavenly Dao energy is easy to obtain, the ability to improve one's comprehension and better understand the Dao of Heaven and Earth is the most precious of all.

"This move, Howling Gale, should be done like this; not only is the power greater, but it can also gather momentum."

"No, that's not right. The most important thing for this move, Swift Thunder Fierce Wind, should be 'speed'."

Countless sparks of inspiration appeared in Zhou Hao's mind. As he practiced it over and over, the Chaotic Cloak Staff Technique became increasingly proficient.

The sea wind howled...

Under the moonlight, a single figure seemed as though he would never stop.